Reproductive biology of the greyfin croaker <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pennahia anea</Emphasis> in the northern South China Sea |
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Authors: | Cynthia?Darta?Tuuli Email author" target="_blank">Yvonne?Sadovy de MitchesonEmail author Min?Liu |
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Institution: | (1) The Swire Institute of Marine Science and The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong;(2) Present address: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Oceanography and Environmental Science, Xiamen University, 182 Daxue Road, Xiamen, 361005, Fujian, China; |
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Abstract: | The greyfin croaker Pennahia anea is one of the most common croakers currently on retail sale in Hong Kong, but there are no regional studies on its biology
or fishery. The reproductive biology of the species, based on 464 individuals obtained from local wet markets, was studied
over 16 months (January 2008–April 2009) using gonadosomatic index (GSI) and gonad histology. Sizes used in this study ranged
from 8.0 to 19.0 cm in standard length (SL). Both the larger and smaller size classes were missing from samples, implying
that they are infrequently caught in the fishery. Based on GSI data, the approximate minimum sizes for male and female maturation
were 12 cm SL. The size at 50% maturity for females was 14.3 cm SL, while all males in the samples were mature. Both GSI and
gonad histology suggest that spawning activity occurred from March–April to June, with a peak in May. Since large croakers
are declining in the local and regional fisheries, small species such as P. anea are becoming important, although they are mostly taken as bycatch. In view of unmanaged fishing pressure, and given the decline
in large croakers and sizes of P. anea presently caught, proper management of the species is suggested. |
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