Reproduction, sexual maturity, and spawning ecology of Talang, Scomberoides commersonnianus, and Needlescaled queenfish, Scomberoides tol in Pakistan

Abstract

An analysis of sexual pattern, spawning ecology, and size at sexual maturity in two queenfishes (Talang queenfish, Scomberoides commersonnianus and needlescaled queenfish, S. tol) was made. Fish samples were collected monthly by gillnet and trawls from the northern Arabian Sea coast of Pakistan from July 2013 to June 2014. The gonad maturity was categorized in six developmental stages based on visual analysis (colour, morphology) and histological screening of the gonads. The males of Talang queenfish dominated the population with a ratio of 1:0.4 (♂ to ♀) whereas females were higher (1:1.6) in needlescaled queenfish population. Talang queenfish was reproductively active during summer with a peak in June and winter spawning season, which appeared from November to February. Needlescaled queenfish is repeatedly spawner, appeared to be in spawning in the summer and fall. Estimated size-at-sexual-maturity for Talang and needlescaled queenfish suggests that the minimum legal length (MLL) should not be set lower than 35, 38 cm TL respectively. This conservative MLL, equal to or more than a length at functional maturity of both queenfish species would safeguard immature individuals until they reach a size at which they can contribute to the reproductive capacity of the populations in the northern Arabian Sea coast.