Search

The age, growth and mortality parameters for poor cod, Trisopterus minutus, from the eastern Adriatic were analyzed. Samples were collected monthly from January to December 2009 on a random basis, with a total of 1200 specimens analyzed (885 females and 315 males). The values of parameter b (the exponent of the arithmetic form of length-weight relationships) of males (2.97), females (3.01) and total sample (2.99) indicated isometric growth. Fish aged 1-6 years were present in the samples, including a high proportion of 2-year-old individuals. The oldest female was estimated to be 6 years old, while the oldest male was 5. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L? = 26.81, K = 0.186, and to = 1.41 for males; L? = 29.5, K = 0.197, and to = 1.33 for females; L? = 28.76, K = 0.194, and to = 1.34 for all specimens. This study revealed that poor cod is a relatively slow-growing fish with intensive growth during the first two years of life. Total and natural mortality were Z = 1.01 year-1 and M = 0.50 year-1, respectively. The exploitation rate, E = 0.50, revealed a high fishing pressure on the stock in the studied area.