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The reproductive biology of the commercial seabait polychaete species Perinereis nuntia brevicirris, Lumbrineris funchalensis and Halla parthenopeia was investigated from samples obtained from the Suez Canal, Egypt, to determine sex-ratio, reproductive maturity stages, spawning season, and fecundity. Samples were collected monthly from January 2002 to February 2003. The results of sex-ratio indicated that males of the three studied worms outnumbered females through the whole study period. Based upon histological features of the coelomic contents, four maturity stages were described in females of P. nuntia brevicirris, three stages were described for females of L. funchalensis and three stages for females of H. parthenopeia. The spawning season of P. nuntia brevicirris was found to take place during spring and L. funchalensis does not have a defined breeding season, while H. parthenopeia has two reproductive periods, one in May and the second in November and lasted to January. Fecundity was estimated by counting the number of oocytes per each female-it showed that P. nuntia brevicirris is more fecund (mean ¼ 208.358 +2080 oocyte/female) than L. fanchalensis and H. parthenopeia (mean ¼ 2660 +654 and 142,068 +2005 oocyte/female respectively). This study is the first to document aspects of the reproductive biology of the highly commercial polychaetes in the Suez Canal and adds to our knowledge for understanding their reproductive patterns and strategies.

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In the current work, the overall ratio between males and females of Sarpa salpa was 1:0.32. The first sexual maturity of males was recorded at length group (21.1-24cm) by 66.6% and the female was recorded at length group (24.1-27) by 50%. Ovaries of S. salpa were examined. The smallest mature female had a total body length of 29 cm and 387.73 gm weight with absolute fecundity of 2,978,440 eggs. The largest female had total body length of 39 cm and body weight of 918.86 gm with absolute fecundity 1,685,729 eggs. Based on the results of maturity stages, gonadosomatic indices (G.S.I) and ova diameters, the study showed clearly that spawning season of S. salpa in the Libyan coast of the Mediterranean waters extends from October to December.