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The silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus, is distributed in Indo-western pacific ocean, especially in Persian Gulf and Oman sea, and although is widely commercially exploited, the genetics structure of this species is not clear completely. In the present study, the genetic diversity and population structure of Pampus argentus in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea were investigated using microsatellite DNA markers. Genomic DNA from 125 specimens was extracted and PCR amplification performed. Seven loci with reasonable polymorphism were amplified. The results showed that average of observed heterozygosity was ranged from 0.54 while expected heterozygosity was 0.67. After applying the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) test, some loci were found to be significantly deviated from HWE in some populations in which deficiency of heterozygotes was apparent. Population differentiation observed among all populations (P

Data used in this publication is a part of a comprehensive study was carried out jointly between South Aquaculture Research Center (SIARC) and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) on silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) in 2003 to 2005. The study was aimed to collect efficient data from two regions from biological and population parameters of this economically important fish to properly explain its stock situation and ultimately leads to improve a better management program for conservation of stock and yield sustainability. Monthly data collection on length and biology, started since May 2003 and ended by December 2005. Shrimp trawl and gill nets were used for sample collection from the predicted areas in both sea regions. FL of the fish was within the range of 12-34cm, with the dominant length of 18-25cm in Kuwaiti waters. In Khouzestan waters fork length was ranged 14-22cm for the years of 2003 and 2004 but 14-26cm for 2005. Strong relationship between length and weight in both countries with a scanty difference was observed for this species (R2 =0.989 for Khouzestn, R^2=0.947 for Kuwait). The findings of present study are suggesting that silver pomfret is following an allometric growth pattern in studied area. Spawning of silver pomfert begin in July and continue till October in Kuwaiti waters but in Khouzestan waters the heights spawning of this fish started in end of May till October. Length at first maturity of this species in the studied area of Kuwait was found to be 19.6cm FL based on Spearman-Karber method but 23.3cm (FL) based on the logistic model. The parameter was estimated 20.0 cm (FL) in Khouzestan waters according to the logistic model.

A total of 162 specimens of Silver Pomfret (Pampus argenteus) including 38 samples from Kuwait and 124 samples from Iran (24 from Khouzestan, 24 from Chabahar and 38 from Bushehr) were examined for their DNA structure. DNA from all specimens was extracted using the Phenol-chloroform and amplified using PCR method with a pair of primers with ND sub(2) gene sequence. The PCR products were about 1300 (bp) for all samples. For RFLP analysis 16 restriction enzymes Bcl I, Pst I, Acc II, BseN I, Tru I, Dra I, Alw26 I, Hin6 I, Tas I, Alu I, EcoR I ,Hae III, Hinc II, Hind III, Hinf I and Hpa II were used. DNA bands were visualized by Gel electrophoresis (polyacrylamid) and staining with silver nitrate. Out of 16 enzymes, four showed polymorphism that includedg Hinf I, Alu I, Acc II, and Hpa II. Of the total 162 samples, 13 showed polymorphic patterns. Six haplotypes were rare occurring only once, but others which were only four different kinds occurred more than once. The REAP test gave no significant result for the examined regions (P>0.05). Therefore, our results revealed that the Pampus argenteus stocks in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea of Iranian and Kuwaiti waters constitute a unique population.

The project “Stock Assessment of Zobaidy, Pampus argenteus, in the North of Persian Gulf” started in April 2003 and completed by the end of April 2006 as a cooperative research project to assess the valuable stock of zobaidy shared between Kuwait and Iran in the North of Persian Gulf. The main objectives were to investigate and determine the basic biological parameters, the standing biomass, seasonal abundance, and the impact of regional fishery activities. These studies are necessary to recommend practical management policies and measures for long-term sustainability of the zobaidy stock. The sampling of fisheries data (catch, effort, fish length distributions, and biological data) was started in May 2003 and ended December 2006. Monthly length frequencies data were collected from both the drift gill net and shrimp trawl fisheries. Age determination was based on otolith sectioning, polishing, etching, and staining method. The age groups ranged from 0 to 10 yrs but the dominant age groups were 1-3 years and the estimated parameters for both sexes were L∞ = 32.0-36.0 cm FL and K = 0.26-0.30 yr-1, females grow faster than males. Sea survey on board of two dhow boats was carried out using swept area method. Higher abundance was always obtained in Kuwait Bay rather than the other areas surveyed in Kuwait and Khuzestan waters. The total estimated stock biomass in the surveyed areas varied from 42 t in January 2004 to 2,633 t in November 2004, while the Iranian biomass varied from as low as 19 t in October 2005 to 295 t in November 2003. The data indicated that Ras Al-Gaid, Bubiyan Island is the main nursery area in Kuwait waters, while Lifah, Busaif, and Bahrakan are important nursery areas in the Khuzestan waters. Kuwait Bay and Khor Musa are considered important spawning grounds and should be protected. Yield per recruit analysis showed that higher yield could be gained with increasing fish effort, which is not recommended under the present status of high exploitation rate. In contrast, virtual population analysis indicated that future catches will reduce if the fishery continues with present level fishing effort. A reduction of 50% would be required to maintain the present level of catches as well as to enhance the stock biomass. Formulation of a joint advisory management committee would be advisable approach to manage and monitor the zobaidy stock in the region. This will need commitment from the three countries in the region for data collection on regular basis on length frequency, statistics, and biological data. Copepods with high occurence of 64% - 88% is considered as the main item in the Pomfret fish, while jelly fish and other decapods crustaceans are considered as minor items. Observation of pre- flexion stage larvae of pampus genus among the specimens collected from Khuzestan coast water could be considered as an evidence for the spawning of this fish in this region. The occurrence of pampus larvae in Khuzestan coast during the months of June to October has been reported for several times. Examination of 101 specimens (38 from Kuwait, 63 from Iran) for molecular survey does not show any significant differences between Kuwait and Iran water stocks for this fish, so it is possible to hypothesize a unit population for zobidy stock in Persian Gulf and Oman Sea as whole. Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute Published

Commercial catch data in Khouzestan Province (North West Persian Gulf) landing centers were used in this study. Total number of active fishing dows and boats in 2004 were 601 and 1440 respectively. Abadan area head the maximum number of boats (%49) of the province in this year and it was calculated %70 for dows. A total catch of 19950 tons was landed in 2004 which showed 40 percent decrement comparing to previous year in which 33508 tons had been recorded. This decrement occurred after a series of increments in catch during the last years. 71 Percent of total catch of the province belonged to Abadan area. Total catch of Silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) in 2002 was 182 tons and increased to 408 tons in 2004. L∞, condition factor (K), M. and E. were estimated for this species 32.62 cm, 0.54 per year, 1.06 and 0.64 respectively. Total catch of Tiger tooth croaker (Otolithes rubber) increased from 942 tons in 2002 to 2300 tons in 2004. L∞, K, M. and E. were estimated for this fish 62.12 cm, 0.5 per year, 0.92 and 0.6 respectively. Tenualosa ilisha had a landing of 6841 T in 2003 and showed a steep decrement (%82) in 2004. Abadan Landing places had the most percentage of catch for O. rubber (%72) and T. ilisha (more than %82). Less economically important species landings were increased during last years. Catch statistics of Lizard fish Saurida tumbil in 1993 was 81 T and reached to 318 T in 2004 and for Thread fin bream Nemipterus Japonicus it increased from 80 to 972 tons. Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute Published

A Study was carried out on spawning season, feeding and some environmental conditions of 8 aquatic species of Hormozgan sea waters from Oct. 91 to Mar. 93. The results showed that spawning peak for Otolithes ruber, Psettodes erumei, Pomadasys kaakan, Arius thalassinus and Arius tenuispinis occurred in spring, for Pampus argenteus and Parastromateus niger occurred in summer, and for Sopia pharaonis occurred in Autumn. Two summer spawner and two Arius species were appeared Lo he very gluttonous and other spring spawner species showed rather less tendency for feeding P. argenteus appeared to eat copepod and rhizosolenia and P. niger stomach contents included nematode and annelid worms and also copepod, P. erumei feeds on small fishes and others eat crustacean and small fishes too. High growth coefficients for P. argenteas and A. renuispinnis a medium growth coefficient for P. niger and low growth coefficients for other species were obtained. Except for S. pharaonis, geographical distribution did not differ significantly (α