Diet of kingfish (Scomberomorus commerson) in Iranian coastal waters of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

Diet of kingfish was examined in the Iranian coastal waters in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea during the year 2005-08. With the examination of 1655 kingfish stomachs caught by drifting gillnets, it was revealed that this species fed three groups of preys including fish, Cephalopods, and Crustaceans, of which the fish group accounted for the highest in the frequency of number (99.3%) and in the frequency of occurrence (99.1%). Nine families for the fish group, one family for Cephalopods and one family of Crustaceans were identified, with totally fifteen species were identifiable. In fish group, Engraulididae and Clupeidae families had the highest frequency of number (22% and 13.5% in respective family) and the highest frequency of occurrence (8.4% and 14.4% of the total stomachs examined in respective family), which Clupeidae seems to be a preferred food for kingfish in the coastal waters. Feeding intensity of kingfish is higher when the peaks of small pelagic catches occurred in spring and winter in the coastal waters. Because of the importance of Sardines and Anchovies in the feeding of kingfish, it is necessary to harvest the valuable resource of the small pelagic fish.