In the eastern Black Sea, some biological characteristics and small Scale fishing of whiting fish (merlangius merlangus euxinus, nordmann, 1840)

From the Eastern Black Sea coast, a total of 967 whiting fish (Merlangius merlangus euxinus) were obtained between October 2020 and September 2021. Population characteristics of these fish such as age, growth, condition factor, and mortality rates were investigated. In addition, some reproductive characteristics such as sexual maturity height and gonadosomatic index were also studied. It was determined that 53.36% of the studied fish were female and 46.64% were male. It was determined that the length range were 7.60 cm to 23.6 cm in females and 7.50 cm to 20.6 cm in males. The length-weight relationship was determined as W=0.0163L2.7666. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters, which are L∞=28.62 cm, K=0.18 years-1, t0= -2.061 years, were calculated for all fish. Maximum age is 5 years for females and 4 years for males. The first reproduction length was determined as 12.38 cm in males and 13.36 cm in females. It was observed that the condition factor for all fish was highest in December. Mortality parameters were calculated from the first capture length. These were determined as total mortality rate, Z=0.86 years-1, natural mortality rate, M=0.36 years-1, fishing mortality rate, F=0.46 years-1, and catch rate, E=0, 57. When the catch rate value is above 0.5, it indicates that there is fishing pressure on the stock. CPUE (Catch per unit effort (kg/km x hour)) value was calculated. They were 37,68 kg/km x hour for January, 38,18 kg/km x hour for February, 30,14 kg/km x hour for March, and 23,63 kg/km x hour for April. Keywords: Merlangius merlangus euxinus, Age, Growth, Reproduction, Condition factor Mortality Rates