Population parameters and feeding properties of some puffer fish in Finike Bay (Antalya)

Puffer fish are invasive species of Indo-Pacific origin that has rapidly invaded the eastern basin of the Mediterranean and have established increasing populations. Especially Silver-cheeked toadfish L. sceleratus is a threat to human life by the fact that it is toxic. For this reason, the academic and administrative interest in this species is much higher than the other invasive species. In this study, some population parameters of the pufferfish were studied in the Finike Bay, Eastern Mediterranean Sea. A total of four fish species from tetradontidae family (L. sceleratus, L. spadiceus, L. suezensis and T. flavimaculosus) in the Finike Bay were determined and 1310 individuals were collected by monthly sampling interval from Finike Bay between March 2017 and March 2018 by using different types of nets and long lines, at depths ranging from 12m to 165m. Length and weight distributions, length weight relationship, growth parameters (L∞, W∞, K, t0), sex ratio, maturity stages, length at first maturity, Gonadosomatic Index (GSI), condition factor, Hepatosomatic index and feeding of pufferfish were determined.