Growth and reproduction of brown comber (Serranus hepatus Linnaeus, 1758) in the central Aegean Sea, Turkey

The growth and reproduction of brown comber (Serranus hepatus Linnaeus, 1758) were studied using specimens collected from the central Aegean Sea between July 2004 and June 2007. A total of 2410 specimens were analyzed, and of those, 2290 individuals were mature and 120 individuals were juvenile. Analyses covered all individuals because the species is a simultaneous hermaphrodite. The length-weight relationship was determined as W = 0.013L(3 11), indicating a positive allometric growth for all samples. The estimated von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L-infinity = 13.19 cm, k = 0.252 y(-1), and t(o) = -0.630 y, and the infinite weight (W-infinity) was calculated as 39.38 g. The growth performance index (phi') of the stock was calculated as 1.642. The first reproduction length was found to be 7.76 cm, corresponding to 3 years of age. The spawning period of the species was determined between May and October.