Growth and mortality characteristics of Otolithes ruber (Schneider, 1801) exploited off Thoothukudi Coast, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

A detailed analysis was undertaken to study the growth and mortality characteristics of the Otolithes ruber in Thoothukudi coast from July 2006 to June 2007. The growth parameters L∞, K and t0 were estimated as 37.28 cm, 0.27 and -0.58 respectively. The K value of O. ruber was relatively low which inferring slow growth rate of this tropical demersal fish species. The estimated total instantaneous mortality co-efficient (Z) of O. ruber was 2.45 and the fishing mortality co-efficient (F) was 1.74. The species are slightly over exploited in this region.