Age, growth and mortality of the Persian Sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, in the Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea

The age and growth of the Persian Sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, obtained from the Iranian coastal waters of the Caspian Sea, were studied through analysis of the pectoral fin ray section from ۱۸۰ specimens, ranging in fork length (FL) from ۶۶ to ۲۰۳ cm. The specimens were obtained from commercial fisheries between October ۲۰۰۸ and June ۲۰۱۰. Interpretation of growth bands in the pectoral fin ray sections was carried out objectively using the direct reading of thin sections and image analysis. The maximum age recorded in this study for the spacimens of Persian Sturgeon was ۳۹ years. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated for females were greater than for males. The estimates of asymptotic length (L?) and growth coefficient (K) of females were ۱۷۳.۰۷ cm and ۰.۱ year -۱, respectively and for males ۱۶۴.۳۳ cm L? and ۰.۰۸ year -۱ K respectively,. Total mortality coefficient (Z) for females and males was estimated to be ۰.۴۵ and ۰.۷۶ year -۱, respectively. 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Keywords:

Life history , Age , Growth , Longevity , Mortality , Persian Sturgeon , Caspian Sea