Comparison of population parameters of indian oil sardine, Sardinella longiceps from the muscat region (Sultanate of Oman) in 1997 and 2020-2021
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Abstract
Indian oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps)plays a key role in the coastal ecosystem and fisheries of Oman. Total sardine landings along the coast of Oman have increased dramatically, from approximately 17,000 mt in 1997 to 440,000 mt in 2021. A comparison of the size structure, length-weight relationship, maturity, spawning seasons, growth, mortality parameters, and some stock characteristics of S. longicepsin 1997 in 2020-2021, as well as data obtained from earlier studies in Oman, shows that the biological structure of the population has been relatively stable over the time. The exploitation rate was greater than 0.5, and although the sardine can sustain high exploitation rates, its stock in the Omani waters was overexploited. The biological data acquired during the present study provide a basis for management of the fishery, however, monitoring of catches should continue so that a longer time series of biological information can be collectedand analyzed.