Age and sexual maturity of sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in the mid-Adriatic

Cilj rada bio je utvrditi dob i spolnu zrelost srdele (Sardina pilchardus) i inćuna (Engraulis encrasicolus) u srednjem Jadranu. Uzorkovanja su provedena korištenjem mreže plivarice na pučinskom području sjevernog dijela Dugog Otoka tijekom ožujka 2022. g. Primjerci srdele i inćuna izdvojeni su iz ukupnog ulova te su skladišteni smrzavanjem a potom obrađeni u laboratoriju. U svrhu određivanja dobi srdele i inćuna, izvršena je mikroskopska analiza otolita. Spolna zrelost obiju vrsta određena je izradom i mikroskopskim pregledom histoloških preparata gonada. Većini uzoraka obiju vrsta je dodijeljena dobna skupina 1+. Analize histoloških preparata većine gonada, kao i GSI kod obiju vrsta ukazuju na razvijene gonade u naprednim fazama oogeneze tj. spolnu zrelost ulovljenih jedinki.The aim of the study was to determine the age and sexual maturity of sardines (Sardina pilchardus) and anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus) in the central Adriatic Sea. Sampling was conducted in March 2022 using purse seine nets in the northern offshore area of the island of Dugi Otok. Samples of sardines and anchovies were separated from the total catch and stored by freezing and then processed in the laboratory. Microscopic analysis of otoliths was performed to determine the age of the caught sardines and anchovies. Sexual maturity of both species was determined by preparation and microscopic examination of histological specimens of the gonads. Most of the specimens of both species were assigned to age group 1+. Analysis of histological preparations of most gonads and GSI in both species indicate developed gonads in advanced stages of oogenesis i.e. sexual maturity of the specimens in the catch