부산 주변해역에 출현하는 삼치 (Scomberomorus niphonius) 암컷의 성숙과 산란

Maturation and Spawning of Female Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius) in the Coastal Waters off Busan

We studied the maturation and spawning of female Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius) based on 445 specimens collected monthly from January to December 2004 in the coastal waters off Busan. The fork length (FL) of S. niphonius ranged from 26.1 to 105.4 cm, the gonadosomatic index (GSI) of the females was highest in May 2004, and the spawning season take place from April to July. A significant difference was detected in the sex ratio between females and males ($X^2$ test, p<0.01). The percentage of sexually mature females exceeded 50% in the 50-60 cm (FL) size group and reached 100% in the over 70 cm (FL) size group. Fecundity (F) varied between 201,156 and 836,426 egg per female. The relationship between F and FL of the fish was expressed as $F=5.8756FL^{3.8465}$. The relationship F and body weight (BW) was expressed as F=581.421 n (BW)-4108.5. The first spawning length was 41.8 cm (FL.)