Age, growth and mortality of Lutjanus vitta (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) off madras coast along south–east coast of India

Length measurements of 790 specimens (145–335mm TL) of Lutjanus vitta landed by the trawler MFV Samudrika and from Royapuram fish landing centre off Madras coast were taken from January 2007 to June 2009 between the area Lat.12°30’ N to 13° 32’ N and Long. 80° 12’E to 80°30’E. Age and growth parameters were estimated using length–based methods. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated were, L∞ = 351.8mm and annual K= 0.34. The recruitment pattern of the species was unimodal and the period was from January to July and peak during February to April. The length at first recruitment was found to be 145mm and the length at first capture (L50) was 304.3 mm. The longevity was calculated as 9 years. Mortality estimates, M= 0.44, Z= 1.27 and F= 0.83 with the exploitation ratio E= 0.66. The VPA analysis reveals that natural mortality was up to 230 mm and later fishing mortality started at 235 mm.