Population parameters of the pontic shad, Alosa immaculata Bennett, 1835 in the Fatsa coast of the south-eastern Black Sea

The aim of this study is to estimate population parameters of pontic shad, Alosa immaculata Bennett, 1835 in the Fatsa coast of the south-eastern Black Sea. A total of 314 pontic shad specimens were collected from study area using artisanal fishing gears from March 2013 to February 2014. In the study, parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth equation were found as L∞=43.05 cm; k=0.430 per year and t0=-0.451 year. The growth performance index (Φ') was estimated as 2.90. The total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M), fishing mortality rates (F) were calculated as 1.33 year-1, 0.75 year-1 and 0.58 year-1, respectively. The annual instantaneous fishing mortality rate was greater than both the target (Fopt=0.375 year-1) and limit (Flimit=0.50 year-1) biological reference points. Similarly, the present level of exploitation rate (E=0.43) was higher than the exploitation ratio for maximum yield per recruit (Emax=0.375) suggesting that overexploitation occurred. These results showed that this species has been over-exploited in the Fatsa coast of the south-eastern Black Sea. Measures should be taken to reduce the current exploitation rate for sustainable fishing of pontic shad in the Fatsa coast of the south-eastern Black Sea.