Length-weight relationship and maturity of the Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus from the Adriatic Sea (Eastern Mediterranean)

The Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus, is widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Most studies on S. scombrus have been realized from the Atlantic sea and updated information about this species in the Mediterranean Sea is still poor. Data on S.scombrus sampled in the South Adriatic sea have been analysed to elucidate seasonal and annual pattern of weight-length relationship and maturity of gonads. A total of 828 specimens were analysed from November 2000 to October 2001. The Atlantic mackerel is confirmed as a winterspawner species. A negative allometry was established during the spawning period for total and gutted fish weight analysis, which recorded the same trend during the year. Otherwise the annual allometry coefficient "b" values showed, for bothsexes, an isometric and an allometric (negative) growth for total and gutted fish weight respectively. No differences among sexes were observed.