Stock assessment of oil sardine Sardinella longiceps Valenciennes 1847 (Clupeiformes: Clupeidae) in the northern Arabian Sea

613-621Length frequency data series of oil sardine Sardinella longiceps Val. from northern Arabian Sea along the west coast of India off Ratnagiri were used to model the growth, mortality rates and yield per recruit. Mean population parameters were; L∞ = 233 mm (total length), K = 0.92 year-1, to = -0.0023 year, Z = 5.23 year-1, M = 1.45 year-1, F = 3.78 year-1and E = 0.72. Using VBGF, the length attained at the end of 1, 2 and 3 years of life was estimated at 140, 196 and 218 mm, respectively. The phi-prime (ɸ) value or the growth performance index was obtained as 2.70. Yield per recruit analysis showed that excessive fishing effort was being exerted on the stocks and a substantial reduction in fishing effort will be required for sustainability of the fishery