A per-recruit assessment of the kingfish (Scomberomorus commerson) resource of Oman with an evaluation of the effectiveness of some management regulations

The status of the kingfish resource of Oman has been assessed using a per-recruit model noting that there are differences in growth and mortality between the sexes (amongst other parameters). It is estimated that at the current fishing mortality rate the spawning biomass per-recruit for females is 16% and that of males is 27%, indicating that the fishery is overfished, with a high chance of recruitment failure in the future. A number of management scenarios, based on minimum size limits and closed seasons were evaluated for this fishery in order to determine which of the scenarios would increase spawning biomass per-recruit without compromising yield per-recruit harvest rates to levels which may lead to socio-economic hardship amongst fishers. It has been shown that closed seasons and minimum size limits may be the most effective current means of achieving these objectives and it is proposed that a closed season, coupled with a minimum size of 45 cm (FL) for both sexes, be implemented each year from the 1 March to 30 April. This would increase spawning biomass per recruit to 29% for females and 40% for males, when compared to an unfished state and over the long-term.