Growth, mortality and yield per recruit of the king soldier bream Argyrops spinifer (Sparidae) from the Oman coast of the Arabian Sea

The King soldier bream Argyrops spinifer at Arabian Sea (Omani waters) was assessed using Beverton and Holt yield per recruit model. A total of 5520 specimens were collected during five trawl surveys between September 2007 and August 2008. The maximum life span was 11 years for length range of 11.0 – 62.1 cm TL. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were K = 0.22 year-1, L∞ = 65.51 cm, to = -0.75 year and W∞ = 5430g. The rates of total mortality Z, natural mortality M and fishing mortality F were 0.85, 0.26 and 0.59 year-1 respectively. The exploitation ratio E was 0.69 indicating the high level of exploitation. The estimated total length at 50% maturity was 31.8 cm. Yield per recruit analysis revealed over-fished stock conditions particularly because small fish are effectively unprotected by current minimum size regulations. Therefore measures such as closed seasons or changes in fishing patterns would be desirable to safeguard the spawning stock and recruits. Also, the commercial fishery of Arabian Sea, Oman should be subjected to a total allowable catch and a maximum size limit be implemented.