Growth Characteristics of the Thick-Lipped Grey Mullet Chelon labrosus (Risso, 1827) from Bardawil Lagoon, Southeastern Mediterranean, Egypt | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries | ||
| Volume 29, Issue 5, September and October 2025, Pages 3341-3361 PDF (784.41 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.428972.6702 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Attia El- Aiatt* 1; Kariman Ahmed Shawky Shalloof2; Shimaa Ali3; Mohamed attia Ali Omar4 | ||
| 1Fisheries Biology Lab. National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt. | ||
| 2Fisheries biology Lab. National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries(NIOF), Egypt | ||
| 3Lakes and Fish Resources Protection and Development Agency (LFRPDA) | ||
| 4Lakes and Fish Resources Protection and Development Agency (LFRPDA | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The IUCN Red List classifies Chelon labrosus as Near Threatened. It is a species that has economic importance in the southeast Mediterranean. Thus, to support sustainable management of its stock in Bardawil Lagoon, this study provides baseline biological and fisheries data. A total of 472 specimens, ranging from 14.3– 43.1cm in total length and 40.0– 765.3g in body weight, were collected during the 2023 fishing season. The length–weight relationship followed the equation W=0.0105L3.02, suggesting that the species exhibits isometric growth. Age determination from scales revealed seven age classes, with mean lengths at the end of each year estimated at 15.3, 19.6, 23.4, 27.1, 30.4, 32.9, and 34.5cm for ages one through seven, respectively. According to the von Bertalanffy growth model, the estimated growth parameters were L∞ =47.4cm, K=0.152yr −1, and t0=−1.508 yr, while the growth performance index (ϕ′) was calculated as 2.535. Mortality rates were estimated as Z = 0.848 yr⁻¹ (total), M = 0.419 yr⁻¹ (natural), and F = 0.429 yr⁻¹ (fishing), yielding an exploitation rate (E) of 0.51. The estimated length at first capture was 21.9cm, corresponding to an age of 2.56 years. The results suggest that the stock is experiencing moderate overexploitation. Therefore, a reduction in fishing mortality of approximately 29–30% is advised to secure the long-term sustainability of C. labrosus in Bardawil Lagoon. These findings provide the first comprehensive biological and fishery insights for this species in the region and highlight the urgent need for science-based management measures. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Age and growth; Mortalities and exploitation rates; C. labrosus; Bardawil Lagoon | ||
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