Inshore versus offshore length distribution of round sardinella (Sardinella aurita) in the middle eastern Adriatic Sea

Abstract

         Round sardinella, Sardinella aurita specimens (N= 2,033) were caught in inshore (Virsko more) and offshore waters (Dugi otok) of the eastern middle Adriatic Sea by commercial purse seine, monthly from November 2007 to January 2009. Out of all specimens, 983 were male (48.4%), 1,021 were female (50.2%) and 29 (1.4%) were undetermined specimens, giving an overall sex ratio of m/f=0.96. Round sardinella specimens from inshore waters (N=526) and offshore waters (N=1,507) showed total length (LT) range 13.0-32.5 cm and 10.0-30.0 cm, respectively. In total, they showed positive allometry (b=3.2266). Fulton’s mean condition factor for round sardinella from inshore waters was K̅=0.76 ± 0.23, and for samples from offshore waters, it was K̅=0.73 ± 0.05. Females indicated better condition (K̅=0.75 ± 0.05) in both analyzed areas than males (K̅=0.74 ± 0.05).