Harun AKSU
Abstract
In this study, catch composition and length-weight relationship of important pelagic species were determinate to catch by midwater trawl, in the Black Sea, such as anchovy (Engraulis en-crasicolus), Mediterranean horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus), bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), allis shad (Alosa tanaica) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus). The end of 36 tows, total 415 487 kg fishes were caught in the the in October, November and December of 2008-2009 fishing season. Anchovy the most was captured fish (225 000 kg), catch amount of other spe-cies was determined 32 112 kg, 1 245 kg, 130 kg and 157 000 kg respectively. The mean length of fishes, 10.72±0.08 cm for anchovy, 13.08±0.05 cm for Mediterranean horse mack-erel, 17.52±0.09 cm for bluefish, 23.30±0.24 cm for allis shad and 8.55±0.02 cm for sprat, were established Length-weight relationship of fishes was calculated W= 0.0093L2.8345, W= 0.0074 L3.0445, W= 0.0030 L3.398, W= 0.0039 L 3.1832, W = 0.0092 L 2.8121 respectively. Growth for anchovy and sprat negative allometric, growth for Mediterranean horse mackerel, bluefish and shad positive allometric were determined. The mean length of fish captured during the study higher than the legal minimum landing size show that selectivity effect of midwater trawl.