Sexual reproduction of Anemonia sulcata (Pennant, 1777) in Moroccan western Mediterranean coast.

The sexual reproduction of the sea anemone, Anemonia sulcata (Pennant, 1777), was studied for the first time at Cape Mazari in the Moroccan Mediterranean coast over an annual cycle from May 2017 to May 2018. A total of 330 individuals of A. sulcata were sampled during 11 months. The sampled individuals were measured, weighed, and fixed for histological analyses. The pedal disc diameter (PDD) of the species ranged from 1.2 cm to 6.6 cm with a mean value of 2.7 ± 0.6 cm. The weight of the species varied from 2.6 g to 94.0 g with a mean value of 19.9 ± 12.7 g. Results of histological analyses indicated a sex ratio of 2.3 female: 1 male. Gonads were observed generally throughout the study period and mature ones were encountered from February to June. Five possible maturity stages of A. sulcata for each gender were recorded. Based on this study, the exploitation of A. sulcata can be managed in the Moroccan Mediterranean coast by the application of the biological rest period from February to June as well as monitoring its weight [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]