The study was conducted to analyze the fish landings from Iraqi artisanal marine fisheries, northwest Arabian Gulf from January 2017 to December 2019. The monthly data of fish landings were collected from the main landing site at Al-Fao port, south Iraq and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 35 taxa in 18 families were identified in the artisanal catches, in addition to two species of shrimps. The highest total landings were 11,944 t in 2018 and 11,305 t in 2019. The annual total landing of the marine fisheries increased by 270% during 2017-2019 as compared with the annual landing during 2008-2016. Threadfin bream contributed 14.1%, followed by river shad (11.1%) and mullets (11.1%), whereas shrimps formed 15.2% to the total catch. The overall values of biomass diversity of fish ranged from 1.82 in 2017 to 2.85 in 2018. There were 320 registered fishing boats motorized by 65 to 950 hp. Multi gears fishing were observed. The trends of the landings of all fish groups were increased substantially, except river shad, threadfin bream and shrimps. The study suggests some of the management measures must be put into place, especially for the river shad in the regions of their migration reproductive and the nursery.

Cichlids are invasive fish to Iraqi waters and became well established and prevailing in different waters. Despite that, there is no stock assessment study conducted for these fish. So, growth, mortality, recruitment and yield-per-recruit of two cichlid’s species; Coptodon zillii and Oreochromis aureus from the Shatt Al-Arab River, Iraq were evaluated from November 2015 to October 2016 using the FiSAT software. A total of 1285 C. zillii (2.9-24.0 cm TL) and 1353 O. aureus (4.5-25.0 cm TL) were examined. Length-weight relationships were derived, indicating allometric growth for both species. The growth parameters (L?, K, Rn, to and ?) obtained for C. zillii were 25.5 cm, 0.320, 0.212, -0.793 and 2.318, respectively, while for O. aureus were 27.8, 0.490, 0.214, -0.271 and 2.578, respectively. The annual rate of total mortality (Z), fishing (F) and natural (M) for C. zillii was found to be 1.51, 0.84 and 0.68 respectively, and for O. aureus 2.49, 1.08 and 1.41, respectively. The present exploitation rates (Epresent) for C. zillii and O. aureus were computed to be 0.454 and 0.57, respectively. Lengths at first capture (LC) were 12.97 cm for C. zillii and 13.25 cm for O. aureus. The peaks of recruitment of C. zillii and O. aureus were from February to May and May to July, respectively. The Epresent for C. zillii and O. aureus were below the biological target reference points (F0.1  and Fmax), indicating that these species were not overexploited. For management purposes, more yields could be obtained by an increase in the fishing activities on cichlids.

Food composition and feeding relationships of four mullet species, Planliza abu, P. subviridis, P. klunzingeri and Osteomugil speigleri from the Shatt Al-Arab River, Iraq, were assessed during 2016-2017.Fish were captured by gill nets, cast net and electro-fishing. The index of relative importance (IRI%) of food item was determined by combined the frequency of occurrence and points methods. Monthly variations in feeding activity and intensity of all species were observed. All species were herbivorous and P. abu and  P. klunzingeri were considered non-specialized feeders, while P. subviridis and O. speigleri were low specialist feeders. P. abu fed mainly on diatoms (38.6%), high plants (21.7%), algae (15.9%), detritus (15.3%), fish eggs (6.9%) and zooplankton (1.6%).The diet of P. subviridis constituted from diatoms (42.2%), high plants (20.9%), detritus (17.7%), algae (15.9%), zooplankton (2.0%) and fish eggs (1.8%). P. klunzingeri fed mainly on diatoms (35.5%), high plants (29.3%), detritus (16.4%), algae (13.4%), fish eggs (4.1%) and zooplankton (2.4%). O. speigleri were consumed mainly diatoms (52.0%), detritus (17.8%), algae (16.6%), high plants (10.7%), zooplankton (2.5%) and fish eggs (2.4%).Similarity dendrogram among fish species based on their diet showed high significant overlaps among the mullet species. It means that these species might be in direct competition for food in the Shatt Al-Arab River.

The current status of species composition, total catch, fishing effort and their landing trends in six fish landing locations in the inland waters of Basrah province, Iraq from 2017 to 2019 were assessed. A total of 15 species in 5 families were recognized in the inland fisheries. The maximum total catch was 2061.5 t in 2019, whereas 1740.7 t in 2017 and 1804.2 t in 2018. The total catches show a clear increasing trend from 2017 to 2019. Cyprinus carpio dominated the overall catch (29.2%), followed by Planiliza abu (16.2%) and tilapias (15.4%). There are positive trends in the catches of all species, except P. abu and Luciobarbus xanthopterus. The highest trends were for Leuciscus vorax and Carasobarbus luteus. The overall values of biomass diversity of each species ranged from 2.10 in 2017 to 2.01 in 2018, whereas 2.11 in 2019. About 75% of the fishing boats (2140 boats) was without engine propelled by paddles in the lengths of 3.5 to 5.0 m. The study suggests some management measures must be put into place include the enforce fish regulations in the Basrah inland fisheries, in particular, preventing illegal fishing methods, and increasing fish production by releasing fingerlings of cyprinid species to preserve them and protect them from extinction and overfishing.