GROWTH OF THE BLACK SEA BREAM SPONDYLIOSOMA CANTHARUS (L) IN THE EASTERN MIDDLE ADRIATIC

Growth of black sea bream Spondyliosoma cantharus (L.) from the eastern middle Adriatic was studied using data on the scales, length and weight from 745 fish. Total length ranged between 6.2 and 46.5 cm, while weight varied between 3 and 2165 g. The von Bertalanffy growth equation was fitted on the basis of mean length-at-age data resulting in parameter values of L(infinity) = 47.7 cm, K = 0.178 and t(0) = -0.27. Weight growth constants are: W-infinity = 2269.2 g, K = 0.149 and t(0) = -0.74. Weight increased allometrically for both sexes together with b = 3.12 and in females alone with b = 3.14, while it increased isometrically in males with b = 2.99. The black sea bream is a long-lived species. The oldest male was estimated to be 14 and female 9 years old. The sex ratio rapidly became skewed in favour of females (3.12:1). Sex reversal was mainly observed in age classes 7 and 8. Females were found only up to a total length of 37.7 cm.