Age and growth of Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda Bloch, 1793) in the Sea of Marmara and Black Sea, Turkey

Abstract

Age and growth of Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda Bloch, 1793) were determined in the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara from October 2003 to May 2005. A total of 694 samples ranging from 23.5 to 71 cm total length was collected; age estimates were carried out on otoliths of 248 fish. Male and female fish ages were estimated as up to 3(+). The length-weight relationship and the von Bertalanffy growth curve (TVBGF) were described for all individuals as: W = 0.0054L(3.215) and L-t = 68.01 [1 - e(-0.895 (t + 0.395))]. These data are discussed in relation to other growth studies of S. Sarda in the Mediterranean Sea.