Biological and Growth Parameters of Short-beaked Garfish <i>Belone svetovidovi</i> from the Black Sea

The age composition and growth parameters of the Short-beaked garfish Belone svetovidovi collected from the Ak & ccedil;akoca coast in the southwestern Black Sea (D & uuml;zce, T & uuml;rkiye) were investigated. A total of 352 B. svetovidovi individuals were collected monthly from January 2022 to December 2022, including 189 females (54.0%) and 163 males (46.0%). When the length-frequency distribution of B. svetovidoviwas analysed, it was found that the length group with the highest number of individuals was the same for both females and males (34.0-34.9 cm), with 35 females and 38 males. The b value in males, females and all individuals was greater than 3, indicating positive allometric growth. The samples of B. svetovidovi individualswere between 1 and 4 years old, with ages 2 and 3 years accounting for 73.54% of female individuals, 80.98% of male individuals and 76.99% of all individuals, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the age groups of males and females at ages 1, 2, and 3 while a significant difference was found between 4-year-old males and females (P < 0.05). The Von Bertalanffy growth values were determined as follows: for females, L = 65.501 [1-e(-0.109 (t+2.586))]; for males, L = 66.751 [1-e(-0.108 (t+2.621))]; and for all individuals, L = 66.596 [1-e(-0.108 (t+2.666))]. The mean condition factor values were found to be 0.1090 +/- 0.015 for females, 0.1085 +/- 0.015 for males, and 0.1087 +/- 0.015 for all individuals. The distribution of gonadosomatic index values by gender showed an increase in February-March-September and a decrease in October-December for both females and males. According to the data obtained from the study, the reproductive period for both female and male individuals was identified as the 7-month period from March to September. This study has revealed, for the first time, some reproductive and growth parameters of the Sh