Observation on Biological Traits of Striped Goatfish (Upeneus vittatus) and Freckled Goatfish (Upeneus tragula) from the Gulf of Suez, Egypt

Abstract: Age, growth, reproduction, nutrition and mortality parameters of goat fish U. vittatus and U. tragula from the Gulf of Suez were evaluated. The estimated life span of the investigated species was three years using the fish scales reading. The Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L4 = 19.8 and 18.7 cm TL and K = 0.598 and 0.648 year G for the two studied species respectively. The total, natural and fishing mortality rates were1 recorded. The exploitation ratio was estimated as E = 0.56 and 0.60 for the two species respectively. Following the variations in monthly gonado-somatic index and the maturity stages indicated that the two species spawn once a year in spring. The length at 50 % sexual maturity was estimated and the results indicated that L were50 laid between 11.0-12.0 cm TL for males and females of the two species, respectively. The analysis of the gut contents revealed that U. vittatus and U. tragula were feed mainly on crustaceans (shrimps and crabs made the bulk of the diet), followed by fishes and mollusks. The study deposited some recommendations that may be profitable for the goat fish's fishery management purpose in the Gulf of Suez. Key words:Goat fishes % U. vittatus % U. tragula % Fisheries biology % Fishery management % Gulf of Suez % Red Sea INTRODUCTION study on the genetic relationship in goatfishes (Mullidae) The goatfish family (Mullidea) is commercially attempts to describe the distribution, the biologica