Longline Fishery And Length-Weight Relationships For Selected Fish Species In Gökova Bay (Aegean Sea, Turkey)

Abstract

This study reports to the investigations on longline fishery in two main fishing ports, Akyaka and Akçapınar in Gökova
Bay (Aegean Sea) between September 2002 and August 2003. A total of 50 fishermen, registered with Akyaka and
Akçapınar fishery cooperatives are fished in Gökova Bay. Numbers of 49 fishing boats are 6-9 meters in length and 9-32 hp
in engine power. The fish species caught from longline fishery were typical of those that inhabit coastal embayments in the
Mediterranean. Epinephelus aeneus, Epinephelus costae, Pagellus erythrinus, Sparus aurata, and Saurida undosquamis
dominated the commercial catch. A total of 25 fish species were identified. CPUE in biomass of fish in Gökova Bay was
found as 8.43±1.02 kg.day-1. The Length-weight relationship parameters of 8 demersal fish species (belonging to 3 families)
are presented. The b values were between 2.736 and 3.109 with mean b equal to 2.960 (95% CI=2.743-3.177).