Maturity and spawning of Atlantic chub mackerel Scomber colias in M’diq Bay, Morocco

Abstract

Knowledge of reproductive parameters is necessary to understand the ecology, the population dynamics and to enable rational management of fish of economic interest. This work is a contribution to the study of some aspects of the reproductive biology of the Atlantic mackerel Scomber colias (Gmelin, 1789) in the Mediterranean Moroccan coast. The study is based on samples taken from commercial catches in M’diq Bay. The spawning period was determined following both the monthly changes of the gonadosomatic index and the histological maturity stages. The Atlantic chub mackerel spawn between November and March, with maximum activity in December.