EXPLOITATION AND MORTALITY OF GILT SARDINE SARDINELLA AURITA, VALENCIENNES, 1847 IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN ADRIATIC SEA

This paper presents the results of population structure, mortality and exploitation of gilt sardine Sardinella aurita, Valenciennes 1847, from the catches of inshore (Virsko more) and offshore waters (Dugi otok) in the Zadar area between November 2007 and January 2009. A total of 2033 specimens (983 male, 1021 female, 29 undetermined) showed the sex ratio m/f=0.96; females predominated. The total length (TL) of all observed specimens varied from 10.0 to 32.5 cm (mean±SD=22.0 ± 3.65 cm). The age of gilt sardine varied from 0+ to 5+. The values of natural (M), fishing (F), total mortality (Z) and survival rate (S) coefficients were M=0.46, F=0.23, Z=0.69 and S=0.60, respectively.Even though the catches of gilt sardine have not been recorded yet for the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea, as far as the world’s seas and oceans are concerned, the total catches were ca. 500 000 t in the last decade.