MARINE AND FISHERY SCIENCES 35 (3): 431-436 (2022)

https://doi.org/10.47193/mafis.3532022010902

ABSTRACT. Areolate grouper, Epinephelus areolatus, is one of the reef-associated fish species

which is highly sought-after in the seafood trade. Consequently, a high market demand resulted to

overexploitation and population decline of the species in the wild. This paper aimed to determine

the size structure of E. areolatus from the Arabian Gulf. A total of 355 specimens of E. areolatus

collected over the 12-month sampling period revealed high proportions of females observed

throughout the year and in size class. Males (29.3 cm, 358.44 g) were bigger and heavier than

females (28.8 cm, 326.66 g). The ‘b’ values ranging from 2.86 to 2.88 indicated negative allometric

growth. The relationship between length and weight showed significant positive correlations with p

< 0.0000 and r2values ranging between 96.05-97.12%.

Key words: Arabian Gulf, areolate grouper, length-weight relationship.

Estructura de talla del mero areolado (Epinephelus areolatus) de la costa saudí del Golfo

Arábigo

RESUMEN. El mero areolado, Epinephelus areolatus, es una de las especies de peces asociadas

a los arrecifes que es muy buscada en el comercio de productos del mar. Consecuentemente, una alta

demanda de mercado resultó en la sobreexplotación y la disminución de la población de la especie

en la naturaleza. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo determinar la estructura de tamaño de E. areolatus

del Golfo Arábigo. Un total de 355 muestras de E. areolatus recolectadas durante 12 meses de mues-

treo revelaron altas proporciones de hembras durante todo el año y en la clase de talla. Se observa

que los machos (29,3 cm, 358,44 g) fueron más grandes y pesados que las hembras (28,8 cm, 326,66

g). Los valores de “b” que oscilan entre 2,86 y 2,88 indicaron un crecimiento alométrico negativo.

La relación entre longitud y peso mostró correlaciones positivas significativas con p < 0,0000 y

valores de r2que oscilaron entre 96,05-97,12%.

Palabras clave: Golfo Arábigo, mero areolado, relación largo-peso.

431

*Correspondence:

jesusito.vicente@gmail.com

Received: 4 February 2022

Accepted: 23 February 2022

ISSN 2683-7595 (print)

ISSN 2683-7951 (online)

https://ojs.inidep.edu.ar

Journal of the Instituto Nacional de

Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero

(INIDEP)

This work is licensed under a Creative

Commons Attribution-

NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

International License

Marine and

Fishery Sciences

MAFIS

NOTE

Size structure of Areolate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus) from the Saudi

coast of the Arabian Gulf

JESUSITO A. VICENTE*

Pangasinan State University, Binmaley Campus, Binmaley 2417, Pangasinan, Philippines

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432 MARINE AND FISHERY SCIENCES 35 (3): 431-436 (2022)

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433

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434 MARINE AND FISHERY SCIENCES 35 (3): 431-436 (2022)

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