en Ecology Ecology پژوهشي Orginal research papers <span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">The objective of the study is to describe the<i> </i>length-frequency distribution, (2) to estimate the growth parameters by counting growth bands deposited on whole otolith (3) to determine the white grouper natural mortality. White grouper (</span></span></span><i><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">Epinephelus aeneus</span></span></span></i><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">) sampled from Soumb&eacute;dioune, Mbour, and Joal along the southwestern coast of Senegal in 2020 (n = 973) were aged by counting opaque bands on whole sagittal otoliths. Total length (T_L) ranged from 179.0 to 948.0 mm with an average of 422.48&plusmn;133.79 mm. Analysis of otolith edge type (opaque or translucent) revealed that annuli formed in July-January with a peak in November. White grouper was aged up to 8 years, and the largest fish <span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">measured 948 mm in total length (T_L).</span></span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black"><span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt"> The von Bertalanffy function provided the following parameters: L_&infin;=1042 mm</span></span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">, K=0.13 year^-1 and t₀= -1.48 year.</span></span></span> <span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">Natural mortality (</span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">M</span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">) estimated by Hewitt & Hoenig&rsquo;s longevity-based method which integrates all ages was 0.50</span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">. Because this is a species with a low growth rate, the population of <i>E. aeneus</i> in Senegalese coast requires prudent management. Furthermore, fishery managers need to consider as part of any harvest strategy for these fish the preservation of significant levels of the spawning stock by reducing the numbers of juvenile fish captured in the shrimp trawls and for sale in the market.</span></span></span> <h6></h6> Epinephelus aeneus, Otolith, Age, Growth, Mortality, Senegal coast 717 734 http://jifro.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-4927-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 N. Waly lywa01@yahoo.fr 100319475328460056802 100319475328460056802 Yes Institut Universitaire de Pêche et d’Aquaculture, Université Cheikh Diop de Dakar D. Khady khady1.diouf@ucad.edu.sn 100319475328460056803 100319475328460056803 No Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noir, Cheikh Anta Diop S. Ousseynou ousseynou0303@live.fr 100319475328460056804 100319475328460056804 No Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noir, Cheikh Anta Diop N. Papa papandiaye50@yahoo.fr 100319475328460056805 100319475328460056805 No Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noir, Cheikh Anta Diop P. Jacques jacques.panfili@ird.fr 100319475328460056806 100319475328460056806 No Institut de recherche pour le developpement: Montpellier, Occitanie, FR