Capture production and stock assessment of Solea aegyptiaca Chabanaud, 1927 (Soleidae: Pleuronectiformes) in Bardawil Lagoon, Egypt

Capture production from Bardawil Lagoon was described and analyzed. Fish samples of Solea aegyptiaca were collected for growth study. Otoliths were extracted from each specimen and used for age determination. Back-calculated lengths-at-ages were estimated and used to determine growth rates in length and weight. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters; L∞, K and t0, were determined. Growth in length could be described by the von Bertalanffy growth equation “VBGE”: Lt = 37.52 [1 − e−0.42(t+0.4)]. The total mortality coefficient ‘Z’, the natural mortality coefficient ‘M’ and the fishing mortality coefficient ‘F’ were estimated to be 2.35, 0.63 and 1.72 year−1, respectively. The current exploitation rate ‘Ecur’ was 0.73 year−1. Beverton and Holt’s relative yield per recruit Model (1966) was used to estimate the relative yield and biomass per recruit of S. aegyptiaca in Bardawil Lagoon. The yield-based biological reference points Emax and E0.1 were determined and found to be 0.717 year−1 and 0.62 year−1, respectively. Results indicated that the stock of S. aegyptiaca in Bardawil Lagoon is currently over-exploited. The current exploitation rate should be decreased to the widely adopted target reference point, E0.1 = 0.62 year−1 for sustainable fishery production of S. aegyptiaca in Bardawil Lagoon.