Influence of spawning year and size on reproductive parameters in adult European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Abstract

The current study sought to investigate the impact of the spawning year (SY) and mature female brooder weights (FBW) on the reproductive performance of Dicentrarchus labrax. In three fiberglass circular tanks, a total of 60 mature female brooders of Dicentrarchus labrax were allocated into three equal weight classes; < 1500, > 1500–< 2000 and > 2000–< 2500 g, respectively. The findings showed that the SY and FBW considerably affected on the final egg biomass per each female (EW/F) and diameter of spawned eggs (ED). For the two studied years, the averages of absolute and relative fecundity values that were significantly (P < 0.001) influenced by the SY are 71,924.16 and 51,168.24, and 43.01 and 43.21. Also, absolute fecundity increased noticeably with the maximal FBW. The hatchability % was strongly affected by SY and FBW. The average number of produced larvae per fish increased significantly (P < 0.001) with SY and highest FBW. The findings implied that FBW in correlation to SY can predict the production of a higher number of progenies from mature sea bass female fish, from which to develop novel approaches for selecting brooders during the spawning season.