Cycle sexuel, condition et fécondité de Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) (Clupeidae) du secteur de Mahdia, Tunisie

Abstract

The sexual cycle of the sardine (Sardina pilchardus)of Mahdia sector (Tunisia) was studied by means of ponderal growth of the gonads. The spawning is from November to February. The sardine present the maximum of fat content in summer and a minimum of fat content in Autumn and in Winter. The study of the fecundity shows that the spawning of the sardine is sequential. The absolute fecundity by spawning is between 5428 and 29370 ovocytes. The relative fecundity is, in mean, equal to 480 ovocytes by gram of total mass and 7693 ovocytes by gram of gonads mass.