Growth and Reproduction Properties of Capoeta Capoeta (Guldenstaedt, 1772) in Zernek Dam Lake, Van, Turkey

Abstract

This study was carried out in Zernek Dam Lake, Van, Turkey. In this study, 586 individuals have sampled and investigated between June 2006 and October 2007. The ages, lengths and weights of individuals varied from 1-7 years, 4.0-41.0 cm and 0.7-1060.4 g, respectively. Age-length and length-weight relationships were calculated as L(t) = 48.927x(1-e(-0.2038x(t+0.2028))), as W = 0.0137xL(2.992) respectively. The mean condition factor was defined as 1.339 +/- 0.005. The male: female ratio was estimated as 1:1.72. It was established that females and males attained sexual maturity when they reached to 23 and 15 cm in length, 180 and 60 g and 4th and 2nd age, respectively, spawning was observed between beginning of June and 2nd week of July. It may be suggested that fishing should be forbidden between 1 May and 1 August and minimum catching size must be 5th age, 26 cm fork length and 220 g total weight.