Sardine (Sardina pilchardus) spawning in the light of fat content analysis

Sardine samples from commercial catches obtained by purse seiners operating in Croatian fishing grounds (eastern Adriatic Sea) were collected monthly from March 2017 to February 2018 (excluding January due to a fishing ban). A total of 1085 sardines were analysed. Their total body length and mass ra...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Barbara Zorica, Ivana Anđelić, Vanja Čikeš Keč
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 2019-09-01
Series:Scientia Marina
Subjects:
Online Access:http://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/1810
Description
Summary:Sardine samples from commercial catches obtained by purse seiners operating in Croatian fishing grounds (eastern Adriatic Sea) were collected monthly from March 2017 to February 2018 (excluding January due to a fishing ban). A total of 1085 sardines were analysed. Their total body length and mass ranged from 11.5 to 16.9 cm (mean±SD: 13.9±0.03 cm) and from 11.30 to 54.03 g (mean±SD: 20.31±0.161 g), respectively. Analysis of the length-mass relationship showed positive allometric growth (b=3.3573, r=0.948). Female specimens were predominant (m/f=0.404). According to the monthly gonadosomatic index values, spawning occurred from November to February, which was consistent with previous investigations. The monthly analysis of fat content in the gonads, liver and muscles indicated that the fat content in each studied tissue oscillated seasonally regardless of sex. These alternations were linked to the sardine’s reproductive cycle.
ISSN:0214-8358
1886-8134