Population parameters of sawtooth barracuda Sphyraena putnamae (Jordan and Seale, 1905) exploited along western Bay of Bengal

Population parameters have been studied in nine of the 21 species barracudas reported globally. Along Bay Bengal, Sphyraena putnamae (Jordan and Seale, 1905) forms a significant fishery; however, no information exists globally with respect to its growth, mortality exploitation. This maiden study details population dynamics analysed from samples collected trawlnetters, gillnetters hooks lines along western Bengal during January 2017 December 2019. The mean fork length catch was 50.8 cm largest individual measuring 108.0 cm, highest ever recorded for species. von Bertalanffy growth equation derived is Lt = 113.87 [1 - e -0.23 (t + 0.0636)]. fishery dominated by 1-4 year old age classes lifespan estimated 12.98 years. Year-round recruitment major peak producing 60.87% annual recruits observed February June. Natural, fishing total mortalities were 0.46, 0.25 0.71 per year, respectively. Exploitation rate (E) 0.35 exploitation ratio (U) being 0.18. Though current status indicates that stock underexploited, it however prudent adopt precautionary approach, considering small size as well exploitation, through adoption measures such increase mesh trawlnetters spatio-temporal restrictions nearshore nursery waters. Keywords: Exploitation, Growth, Mortality, Sawtooth barracuda, barracuda