Feeding, Growth and Mortality of Bogue (Boops boops (L. 1758)) in The Eastern Mediterranean Coasts of Turkiye

The bogue (Boops boops (L. 1758)), is a commercially important fish species listed within top landed marine species in Turkish fisheries. This study was performed to assess feeding, growth, mortality, and level of exploitation of the population in Mersin and Iskenderun Bay, in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The ratio of males to females (1:1.04) was not significantly different from 1:1. The growth profile was positive allometric, except for juveniles. The von-Bertalanffy growth parameters for the combined sexes were L_∞ = 32.991 cm, k = 0.181 years⁻¹ and t₀ = -1.928 years, and growth performance index was Ø = 5.286. Total mortality (Z) was estimated as Z = 1.402, with natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) of M = 1.162 and F = 0.829, respectively. The exploitation ratio was calculated as E = 0.829, indicating that bogue stock that inhabits Mersin and Iskenderun Bay was overexploited. Fishing pressure should therefore be reduced in order to preserve the population. A total of 190 stomach contents were analysed, of which 46 (24%) contained undigested food. The diet consisted of larval and juvenile fish, copepods, shrimps, and squids. The larval and juvenile stages of the invasive Bregmaceros nectabanus were the most prevalent prey items, occurring in 95% of the examined specimens with full stomachs. This serves as a notable example of how an invasive species can emerge as a vital dietary component for native species.