Relation taille-masse, condition relative et cycle sexuel des ancois et des sardines des cotes Tunisiennes

Abstract

The reproductive biology, the length-weight relationships and the relative condition of the anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus and the sardine Sardina pilchardus were studied in the North area, the Gulf of Tunis, the East area and the South area along the Tunisian coasts during the 2000-2002 periods. For the anchovy and the sardine, the overall ratio of male and female along the Tunisian coasts was of 1.0. The occurrence of the first maturity was influenced by the sea temperature in the four areas. The spawning periods took place, in the four areas, from april to october for the anchovy and from october to march for the sardine. Along the Tunisian coast, the anchovy and the sardine showed a positive allometry and a condition characterized by two distinct periods; a good and a hard one.