Determination of Age and Growth Rate (using Scales) for Roving grey mullet Liza carinata (Valenciennes, 1836) in the Coast of Susah - Eastern Libya

Determination of Age and Growth Rate (using Scales) for Roving grey mullet Liza carinata (Valenciennes, 1836) in the Coast of Susah - Eastern Libya

Bushray S. S. Sargeewah (1) Abeer M. T. Mohammed (2)  & Esam M. K. Buzaid (3)

Marine Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Albayda, Libya.

bushra.sargeewah@omu.edu.ly      abeer.mohammed@omu.edu.ly      Esam.buzaid@omu.edu.ly

ABSTRACT

Understanding the age and growth dynamics of fish populations is crucial for sustainable fisheries management. This study focuses on Liza carinata, a species of ecological and economic importance in Libyan waters. Scale samples were collected from 30 specimens in November 2024 at Susah Port, Libya. The age of the fish ranged from 1 to 3+ years, with lengths between 24 cm and 32 cm and weights varying from 182.1 g to 352.5 g. The length-weight relationship was described by the equation W=0.05575L^2.508, with a strong correlation (R²=0.7869). The condition factor (K) ranged from 0.8026 to 1.238, indicating good health across age groups. A linear but non-proportional relationship was observed between body growth and scale growth, with scale radii ranging from 4 mm to 22 mm. These findings provide valuable insights into the growth patterns of L. carinata and highlight the importance of scale analysis in fisheries science.

Keywords: Roving grey mullet Liza carinata, Age determination, Length-weight relationship, Scale analysis, Condition factor (K), Susah Coast, Eastern Libya