Biology and stock assessment of the bigeye croaker Pennahia anea (Bloch, 1793) landed along Andhra Pradesh, north-east coast of India

Abstract

Fishery and biology of the bigeye croaker Pennahia anea landed by shrimp trawls at Visakhapatnam during June 2007 to December 2011 was studied and stock assessment was carried out for Andhra Pradesh. Pennahia anea formed 12.8% of the total sciaenids landed in the state. The mean length was 18.34 cm and length at first maturity was 16.65 cm. The growth parameters L∞ and K were estimated as 33.0 cm and 0.7 year-1. The length-weight relationship was estimated separately for male and female as Log W = -1.567 + 2.812 Log L (r2 = 0.88) and Log W = -1.9229 + 3.094 Log L (r2 = 0.96) respectively. Female bigeye croaker showed positive allometric growth whereas male showed negative allometric growth. The total mortality (Z) was 4.23, natural mortality (M) 1.35 and fishing mortality (F) was 2.88. The exploitation rate (E) was 0.68. Yield-per-recruit at current fishing was 37.905 g and maximum yield-per-recruit was 38.282 g indicating that the stock of bigeye croaker along Andhra Pradesh coast is being optimally exploited.