DYNAMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE INDIAN MACKEREL RASTRELLIGER KANAGURTA (CUVIER, 1816) IN THE GULF OF SUEZ, EGYPT

Based on the otolith's readings of 678 specimens collected during the fishing season 1998/1999, age, growth, mortality and yield per recruit of Rastrelliger kanagurta from the Gulf of Suez were studied. Age composition showed no variation between the two sexes. The oldest males and females were four years old. The values of the von Bertalanffy growth parameters were K = 0.66 year"1 and L^ = 29.48 cm for males and K = 0.60 year"1 and Loo = 32.04 cm for females. The mean total mortality coefficient "Z" was found to be 1.12 year"1 for males and 1.00 year"1 for females. The natural mortality coefficient "M" was 0.26 year"1 for males and 0.25 year"1 for females. The yield per recruit was estimated using the parameters obtained for the combined sexes. The results suggest that the present level of fishing mortality (F= 0,82) is much higher than that which gives the maximum yield per recruit.