Sexual Maturity, Spawning Periodicity and Fecundity of Obtuse Barracuda Sphyraena obtusata (Cuvier, 1829) along Karnataka Coast, Southeastern Arabian Sea

The success or failure of spawning in any population affects the fishery. Hence, studies on spawning, maturation, fecundity and length at first maturity become essential in drafting management strategies. The detailed information on reproductive traits of Sphyraena obtusata will be helpful in sustainable management and conservation in the study area.

Three hundred and fifty five specimens of S. obtusata were collected fortnightly from Mangaluru and Malpe fishing harbors during August 2019 to March 2020. Maturity of gonads was examined by macroscopic and histological investigations. Spawning periodicity was worked out based on maturity stages and seasonal gonadosomatic index. Gravimetric method of analysis was employed to evaluate the fecundity from randomly collected samples of gravid females.

Overall sex ratio revealed that the population had significantly higher (p<0.05, χ² test) proportion of females than males. The length at 50% maturity (Lm₅₀) for females and males was estimated at 21.1 and 21.5 cm respectively. The gonado-somatic index (GSI) and the availability of matured individuals for both the sexes in various percentage indicated a prolonged breeding period from October to March with peaks in November and December. The absolute fecundity varied from 91,942 eggs (20.0 cm TL) to 1,34,445 eggs (27.0 cm TL) with an average of 1,12,878±2,984 hydrated oocytes per female.