Exploitation and Mortalities of Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix L.) in the Sea of Marmara, Turkey

Abstract

A total of 2813 bluefish from the Sea of Marmara were monthly collected from commercial coastal artisanal fisheries, purse
seines, landing at Istanbul fish market between January 2003 and December 2004. The maximal catch length in the study samples
was 45.3 cm and mean length was 16.9 cm ± 0.01 (8.4 – 45.3 cm). Total (Z), natural (M) and fishing (F) mortalities of bluefish from
Marmara Sea were found as 0.60 year-1, 0.36 year-1and 0.96 year-1, respectively. The higher exploitation rate (E=0.62) and younger
individuals from the landings are evidence of heavy fishing pressure on bluefish in the Sea of Marmara