Age composition of the European hake Merluccius merluccius, Linnaeus, 1758 from the Egyptian Mediterranean waters off Alexandria

Data for age, growth and mortality were analyzed for Merluccius merluccius collected by trawling from the Egyptian Mediterranean waters off Alexandria during the period from March 2009 to February 2011. Total length ranged between 14 and 43 cm. The age was estimated by otolith radius and it was found that the maximum age was 4 years for males and 6 years for females. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for males were L∞ = 58.97 cm, K = 0.158 yr−1, t0 = 0.235 yr−1, and w∞ = 2305.1 g, for females L∞ = 69.21 cm, K = 0.133 yr−1, t0 = 0.271 yr−1, and w∞ = 5557.05 g and for combined sexes L∞ = 74.19 cm, K = 0.119 yr−1, t0 = 0.2819 yr−1, and w∞ = 5237.85 g. The values of growth performance Q for females were (2.801) higher than that for males (2.741). Estimated total, natural, fishing mortality rates and exploitation rate for males were (Z = 0.507 yr−1, M = 0.3963 yr−1, F = 0.1107 yr−1 and E = 0.218) respectively, for females (Z = 0.518 yr−1, M = 0.3379 yr−1, F = 0.1803 yr−1 and E = 0.348) and for combined sexes (Z = 0.513 yr−1, M = 0.309 yr−1, F = 0.2047 yr−1 and E = 0.3987). Length and age at first capture were Lc = 14.34 cm and Tc = 1.99 yr−1 for males and Lc = 19.34 cm and Tc = 2.74 yr−1 for females.