RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FISH LENGTH AND OTOLITH LENGTH, WIDTH AND WEIGHT OF THE INDIAN MACKEREL Rastrelliger kanagurta (CUVIER, 1817) COLLECTED FROM THE SEA OF OMAN

The relationships between otolith dimensions and fish size (Fish total and fork lengths) for the teleost species, Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1817) collected from the vicinity of Muscat City at Oman Sea were examined and found to be linear. Otolith morphometric observations included length, weight and width were correlated with the total and fork lengths of the fish. Regression models relating each otolith morphometric parameter to the two fish lengths are provided. The significance of each parameter for estimating fish length was examined. The length, width and weight of otolith appeared to have the best discrimination for estimating total and fork length of fish as well as the easiest parameters to measure.