REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMON MARINE FISHES IN THE LEBANESE COASTAL FISHERY: BALISTIDAE, CLUPEIDAE, ENGRAULIDAE, HAEMULIDAE, LABRIDAE, MERLUCCIIDAE, MORONIDAE, SEBASTIDAE, SCIAENIDAE, SERRANIDAE, SPARIDAE, SPHYRAENIDAE

Abstract

At least 1,600 animal species are found in Lebanon's marine waters, out of which 80 fish species are commercially important. Agriculture and fisheries have played a minor role in the economy, providing only 30% of domestic food need. The country relies on imports to meet the demand for food, however, more than 3500 fishers strictly depend on fishing. The fisheries in Lebanon are typically Mediterranean and mainly composed of purse seines, entangling nets, longlines and wire traps. The Lebanese coast and fisheries are under a lot of pressure: overfishing, pollution, destruction of habitats and the failure of classical management approaches. Studies on reproductive biology is crucial to plan a better conservation of fishery resources. In this work, 28 commercially important species were sampled over a period of two years from different locations in Lebanon. These samples were dissected and data analysis were performed to calculate different parameters related to the reproduction of these species. These parameters were the Gonadosomatic index, Hepatosomatic index, condition factors, Weight-Length relationship and size at first maturity. We came across many challenges, namely: the small number of species collected, the small number of individuals collected per species, the economic crisis and the covid-19 pandemic. However, the main goal of the study was to compile primary data on reproductive characteristics of the maximum number of commercially important species in Lebanon. It is highly recommended that future studies, following the same methodology, be planned in the upcoming years to validate and complement the gaps in our results.