Fisheries Biology of Non-Indigenous Sardine, Sardinella gibboza, on the Mediterranean Sea Front Damietta Region, Egypt
El Far, A., Ali, A., Nawareg, M., Elgetany, A., Bahnasawy, M., El-Tohamy, W. (2025). Fisheries Biology of Non-Indigenous Sardine, Sardinella gibboza, on the Mediterranean Sea Front Damietta Region, Egypt. EKB Journal Management System, 29(5), 381-401. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.409452.6318
Alaa El Far; Aisha Ali; Mona Nawareg; Asmaa H Elgetany; Mohamed Hamed Bahnasawy; Wael S. El-Tohamy. "Fisheries Biology of Non-Indigenous Sardine, Sardinella gibboza, on the Mediterranean Sea Front Damietta Region, Egypt". EKB Journal Management System, 29, 5, 2025, 381-401. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.409452.6318
El Far, A., Ali, A., Nawareg, M., Elgetany, A., Bahnasawy, M., El-Tohamy, W. (2025). 'Fisheries Biology of Non-Indigenous Sardine, Sardinella gibboza, on the Mediterranean Sea Front Damietta Region, Egypt', EKB Journal Management System, 29(5), pp. 381-401. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.409452.6318
El Far, A., Ali, A., Nawareg, M., Elgetany, A., Bahnasawy, M., El-Tohamy, W. Fisheries Biology of Non-Indigenous Sardine, Sardinella gibboza, on the Mediterranean Sea Front Damietta Region, Egypt. EKB Journal Management System, 2025; 29(5): 381-401. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.409452.6318

Fisheries Biology of Non-Indigenous Sardine, Sardinella gibboza, on the Mediterranean Sea Front Damietta Region, Egypt

Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
Volume 29, Issue 5, September and October 2025, Pages 381-401    PDF (1.11 M)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.409452.6318
Authors
Alaa El Far* 1; Aisha Ali2; Mona Nawareg3; Asmaa H Elgetany4; Mohamed Hamed Bahnasawy5; Wael S. El-Tohamy6
1National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries
2Marine and Coastal Water Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Zintan University, Libya
3Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University
4Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt
5Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University.
6Zoology Department/Faculty of Science/Damietta University/Egypt
Abstract
The recent establishment of Sardinella gibbosa, a non-indigenous clupeid, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea—specifically along the Damietta coastline of Egypt—raises important questions concerning its population dynamics and potential ecological implications. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the species' biological parameters based on 595 specimens collected between April 2023 and February 2024. Length-weight relationships revealed negative allometric growth (b< 3), accompanied by statistically significant sexual dimorphism in both length–weight relationships and condition indices. Growth modeling, employing the von Bertalanffy growth function, yielded higher asymptotic lengths in females (21.1cm) compared to males (20.2cm), with growth performance indices (Φ′) indicative of moderate somatic growth rates (Φ′ ≈ 2.24 and 2.26 for female and male, respectively). The reproductive assessment revealed a female-biased sex ratio and a length at first maturity (Lm) that closely approximated the estimated length at first capture (Lc), suggesting potential exposure to growth overfishing. Mortality and exploitation rates suggested that the stock is approaching its optimal harvest level. These findings provide essential baseline data to support the development of evidence-based management and conservation strategies for this recently established species in Mediterranean fisheries.
Keywords
Sardinella gibbosa; non-indigenous species; Eastern Mediterranean; population structure; reproductive biology; fisheries assessment; management strategy
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