Updated Life History Traits of Narrow-Barred Spanish Mackerel, Scomberomorus commerson (Lacépède, 1800) of UAE Waters in the Southeastern Arabian Peninsula

Abstract

The narrow-barred Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus commerson, is an economically important fish species in the Arabian Peninsula. This study aims to revisiting its life history traits by data collected in a 15-month monitoring program (January 2019–May 2020) in UAE waters. Fork length ranged from 30.5 to 132 cm. Growth parameters of k were 0.14 and 0.15, L_inf was 128.9 and 135.4 cm, and t₀ was −2.4 and −2.3 for males and females, respectively. The Lm₅₀ were 78.7 and 69.7 cm FL, and Am₅₀ were 2.0 and 1.8 years for females and males, respectively. Gonadosomatic index showed that the spawning season had started in March and ended in June with a clear peak in April. Mortality estimates were 0.69 year⁻¹ for total mortality, 0.43 year⁻¹ for fishing mortality, and 0.26 year⁻¹ for natural mortality. The mean size and age at first capture were 43.4 cm FL and 1.8 years, respectively. The spawning biomass ratio was estimated at 20.5%. In the study period of 2019–2020, high exploitation rate especially on juvenile fish capture was recommended to reduce for long-term sustainability.