Length-weight relationships of 28 fish species caught from demersal trawl survey in the Middle Black Sea, Turkey

This study provides updated the length-weight relationships and Fulton's condition factor of 28 fish species belonging to 23 families from the Black Sea. Samples were collected along the depths between 0-100 meters by demersal trawl surveys conducted seasonally from May 2017 to September 2019. A total of 83,885 specimens were collected. The length-weight relationships and Fulton's condition factor, minimum, maximum and mean lengths, total weights, descriptive statistics, and growth type were provided for all the species. The results indicate that LWR parameters of b varied from 2.2039 to 3.737 and Fulton's condition factor varied between 0.004 and 1.18. These findings could be useful for monitoring and management of sustainable fisheries and habitat health

Evaluation of Anchovy Meal and Soybean Meal as Dietary Protein Sources for the Black Sea Turbot, Psetta maxima

Soybean meal and locally-produced anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) fishmeal were evaluated as protein sources in the intensive culture of Black Sea turbot, Psetta maxima, by comparing them with imported Alaskan fishmeal. Three diets were prepared. One contained imported fish- meal and the second anchovy fishmeal. In the third diet, part of the anchovy fishmeal was replaced by soybean meal. The dietary protein levels were adjusted to approximately 50%. Juveniles (avg wt 8.2 g) were reared for 61 days in triplicate tanks. Growth and feed efficiency in fish fed the anchovy fishmeal diet were inferior to those of fish fed the imported fishmeal diet, indicating the need to improve the quality of the anchovy fishmeal. Partial replacement of the anchovy fishmeal by soybean meal resulted in worse growth performance. The low growth rates obtained with the anchovy fishmeal diet and the anchovy plus soybean diet were accompanied by low lipid and glycogen accumulation. Fatty acid compositions of the muscle and liver were not influenced by the dietary protein source. The inferior results with the soybean meal diet might have been due to effects of anti-nutrients on the digestive system