Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2021) 9(2): 105-114 
ISSN: 2322-5270; P-ISSN: 2383-0956
Journal homepage: www.ij-aquaticbiology.com 
© 2021 Iranian Society of Ichthyology 

Original Article 
Life history parameters of Yellowfin hind, Cephalopholis hemistiktos (Rüppell, 1830) in 

the coast of United Arab Emirates 
 

Elsayed Farrag*1, Walid Aly2, Ahmed El-Zaabi1 
 

1Marine Environment Research Department, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates. 
2National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, NIOF, Egypt. 

 

 

 

 

s 

Article history: 
Received 5 January 2021 
Accepted 20 Februry 2021 
Available online 2 5 April 2021 

Keywords:  
Age 
Growth 
Mortality 
Recruitment 
Exploitation rate 

Abstract: The life history parameters, including age, growth, mortality and recruitment of 
Yellowfin hind, Cephalopholis hemistiktos were studied in monthly collected samples from January 
to December 2018. Otolith was used for age determination. Mean size by the end of each year of life 
was estimated and showed that, the highest annual increment was identified at the end of the first 
year of life then gradually decreased with increase of fish age. The estimated von Bertalanffy growth 
parameters were L∞=43.51 cm, K=0.26 per year, t0=-0.74 year. Asymptotic weight W∞ was estimated 
as 1375.23 g. The length-weight relationship was W=0.0126 L3.0746 with R2=0.94 for both sexes. The 
instantaneous rates of total mortality and natural mortality were estimated as 0.77 and 0.49 per year, 
respectively. The gonado-somatic index showed increasing from April to August with a peak in June 
for both sexes. Size at first capture (Lc) was estimated as 24.30 cm, which was smaller than the mean 
size at first sexual maturity 25.31 cm. The value of fishing mortality (F=0.28y-1) was slightly higher 
than the optimum (Fopt=0.25y-1) and smaller than the limit (Flimit=0.33y-1) biological reference point, 
indicating that species was exploited within sustainable limit. Estimated parameters and the relative 
yield-per-recruit analysis showed that this species is not over-exploited. 
  

Introduction 
The fisheries of the United Arab Emirates are typically 
multi-species in nature with over 100 species being 
exploited (Grandcourt et al., 2010). They provide a 
source of income, employment and recreation 
contributing to the cultural heritage and food security 
of the inhabitants of the littoral states (Grandcourt, 
2008). Groupers are of great importance in the marine 
ecosystems of all of the subtropical and tropical seas, 
and they play a basic role in the food chain, since they 
are one of the largest carnivores of the ecosystems 
(Grandcourt et al., 2009; Erisman et al., 2010; Craig et 
al., 2011). They are important to both commercial and 
recreational fisheries worldwide (Heemstra and 
Randall, 1999). Grouper populations have been 
depleted by overfishing, destruction of both juvenile 
and adult habitats, ineffective management plans for 
their fisheries or lack of any management policies 
(Sadovy et al., 2013). Grouper ecology is well-known 

                                                           
*Correspondence: Elsayed Farrag                                                                                            DOI: https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v9i2.1089 
E-mail: eefarrag@moccae.gov.ae 

in general, but detailed information on biological 
characteristics is scarce for many species. 
Cephalopholis, Bloch & Schneider is the most 
common genus of the family Serranidae in the 
aquarium trade and some species of this genus feature 
colorful bodies (Abied et al., 2014). The genus 
comprises 22 species (FAO, 2002), of these, 
C. hemistiktos is one of the most abundant species that 
have a disjunctive distribution, being known with 
certainty only from the northern part of the Red Sea to 
the Coast of the Pakistan (Randall, 1995). 
Cephalopholis hemistiktos is primarily caught using 
traps, and to a lesser degree hand lines (Hartmann, 
2013). In the Emirates fisheries, C. hemistiktos has a 
minor components of the demersal species and 
represents 3.30% of the secondary commercial species 
caught by traps (Farrag et al., 2020). Due to the 
scarcity of published information on C. hemistiktos, 
this study was carried out to shed the light on the its 



106 
 

Farrag et al./ Life history parameters of Yellowfin hind 

life history and provide its status assessments as one 
of the subordinate species in the United Arab Emirates 
fisheries.  

 
Materials and Methods 
Study area and samples collection: Monthly size 
frequency data and biological samples were collected 
from four locations along the Coast of the United Arab 
Emirates namely Ras Al-Kheima, Umm Alqwain, 
Ajman and Sharjah from January to December 2018 
(Fig. 1). Fishes were mainly captured by traps and 
selected random from landings.  
Age and growth parameters: Total length was 
recorded to the nearest mm by measuring board. 
Whole wet weight was measured with an electronic 
balance and recorded to the nearest g. The sex was 
determined by macroscopic examination of the gonad, 
which was removed and weighed to 0.1 g with 
electronic balance. Sagittal otoliths were extracted, 
cleaned, dried, weighed to 0.1 mg. One of each pair of 
sagittae embedded in epoxy resin and transverse 
sections through the nucleus were obtained using a 
twin blade saw. Sections were mounted on glass slides 
and examined using a low power microscope and 
transmitted light. Two different observers recorded 
the number of alternating opaque and translucent 
bands. The counts of the two observers were then 
compared, and any that differed by more than one 
zone were removed from further analysis. 

Parameters of the length-weight relationship were 

estimated by fitting the power function to length and 
weight data according to the equation W=a*Lb 
(Ricker, 1975), where W is the wet weight, a is a 
constant, L is the total length and b is close to 3.0 for 
species with isometric growth. In order to verify if 
calculated b was significantly different from 3, the 
Students t-test was employed (Froese, 2006). Fatness 
of fish was described by calculating the coefficient of 
condition (Fulton, 1904) from the formula 
K=100*W/L3 where W is the total weight in g and L is 
the total length cm. Growth was investigated by fitting 
the von Bertalanffy growth function (von Bertalanffy, 
1938) as follows: Lt=L∞*1-exp-K (t-to), where Lt is 
length at age t, L∞ is the asymptotic length, k is the 
growth coefficient and to is the hypothetical age at 
which length is equal to 0.  The parameters of von 
Bertalanffy were estimated according to Ford (1933) 
and Walford (1946), and age at length 0 was 
calculated using empirical formula (Pauly, 1984). 
Growth performance index Ø=LogK+2logL∞ and 
Ø=K+2/3logW∞ for length and weight, respectively 
was calculated according to Pauly and Munro (1984). 
The potential longevity Tmax was estimated based on 
the formula of Beverton (1992) as Tmax=3/K.  
Reproductive biology: Gonado-somatic index (GSI) 
was calculated using the following equation according 
to Anderson and Gutreuter (1983): GSI=100* Wt/WG, 
where Wt is the gonad weight and WG is the gutted 
weight g. Sex ratio and its percentage was estimated 
as the number of females to the number of males in the 
catch, the significant differences from the theoretical 
ratio (1:1) were tested by Chi-squared test X2. The 
mean size (Lm) at first sexual maturity was estimated 
by fitting the logistic function to the proportion of 
mature fish in 10.0 mm size categories (King, 1995). 
The corresponding age at first sexual maturity was 
estimated based on Froese and Binohlan (2000). 
Juvenile retention was calculated as the proportion of 
fish in landings that were below the mean size at first 
maturity. 
Fisheries assessment and Per-recruit analysis: The 
annual instantaneous rate of total mortality (Z) was 
determined using methods of length converted catch 
curve (Pauly, 1983) and linearized catch curve 

Figure 1. Map showing the sampling sites. 



107 
 

Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2021) 9(2): 105-114 

 

(Ricker, 1975) and the mean rate of the total mortality 
was used for further analysis. Backwards 
extrapolation of length converted catch curve were 
used to determine probability of capture (Lc) and the 
corresponding age at first capture (tc) was estimated 
based on Beverton and Holt (1957).  

The mean annual natural mortality (M) was 
calculated by three different methods according to 
Rikhter and Efanov (1976), Pauly (1980) and Hoening 
(1983). Fishing mortality was estimated from the 
equation F=Z–M. The biological reference point BRP 
was estimated by the formula of Patterson (1992) as 
Fopt=0.5*M and Flimit=2/3*M. The exploitation rate E 
was calculated as the proportion of the fishing 
mortality relative to total mortality E=F/Z (Gulland, 
1971).  

The exploitation rate producing maximum yield 
Emax, the exploitation rate at which the marginal 
increase of Y'/R is 10% of its virgin stock E0.1 and the 
exploitation rate which the stock is reduced to 50% of 
its unexploited biomass (E0.5) were estimated. The 
relative yield per recruit Y’/R and relative biomass per 
recruit B’/R were calculated using the model of 
(Beverton and Holt, 1966) and modified by Pauly et 

al. (1996).  
 

Results 
Age and growth: A total of 1504 length frequency 
samples were collected ranging 16.0-42.0 cm and the 
length groups of 25, 26, 27 and 28 cm were the most 
frequent in the catch while the terminal length groups 
of 16, 17 and 41 cm were the least frequent ones (Fig. 
2). A total of 578 C. hemistiktos were used to estimate 
the length weight relationship (511 females and 67 
males). The relationship between fish total length and 
total weight of male, female and sexes combined 
shows in Table 1. The t-test analysis showed a non-
significant difference (t<tcritical at CI 95%), which 
reflect that growth is isometric. The high values of 
regression coefficient (R2) indicate that the correlation 
of total length is best described by linear regression 
equations.   

The maximum values of condition factor for males 
(1.68) and females (1.79) were observed in March i.e. 
before the maturation of gonads. While the minimum 
values (males: 1.50, females: 1.51) were recorded in 
December and November, respectively i.e. after the 
spawning season. In general, the average condition 

Table 1. Length-weight relationship of Cephalopholis hemistiktos for males, females and sexes combined. 

Sex No. TL* 
range (cm) 

TW*  
range (g) 

a b R2 Growth 
 type 

Average K* 

Male 67 18.0-41.0 92.0-999.00 0.0095 3.1568 0.9635 Isometric 1.58 
Female 511 16.0-42.0 69.0-1251.0 0.0132 3.0621 0.9413 Isometric 1.61 
combined 578 16.0-42.0 69.0-1251.0 0.0126 3.0746 0.9444 Isometric 1.60 

* TL: total length, TW: total weight, K: condition factor 
 

Figure 2. Length frequency distribution of Cephalopholis 
hemistiktos. 

Figure 3. Monthly changes in values of condition    factor for 
Cephalopholis hemistiktos. 



108 
 

Farrag et al./ Life history parameters of Yellowfin hind 

factor of females was higher than males (Fig. 3).  
 A subsamples of 468 C. hemistiktos were aged 

using sagittal otolith using transmitted light under low 
power magnification (Fig. 4). Two independent 
readers agreed on the age of 89.0% (418/468). Otolith 
radii were found to be directly proportional and 
correlated with total length of C. hemistiktos 
L=0.0089OR+9.581 (r=0.94). The back calculated 
size at age showed that this species attains length at 
the end of each year from 1st to 7th year as follows: 
16.60, 22.84, 27.73, 31.43, 34.07, 36.14 and 38.05 cm, 
respectively (Table 2). The catch was characterized by 
lacking of juvenile stage (Age group 0). The annual 
growth rate was rapid in the first year (37.59%), then 
gradually decrease with increasing in to reach 1.91% 
in 7th year. The most dominant age group in the catch 
was the 3rd year forming 36.36%, while the last age 
group (7th year) represent 1.67%.  
Parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth function 
were estimated as: K=0.26, L∞=43.51 cm and to=-0.74 
years for combined sex. The value of W∞ was 
obtained by applying the length weight relationship as 
1375.23 g.  

The growth performance index Ø was found to be 
2.70 for growth in length and 2.36 for growth in 
weight. The theoretical growth in length of the whole 
population of C. hemistiktos can be expressed as: Lt= 
43.51*[1-exp(-0.26*(t+0.74))]. The theoretical growth 
in weight (the combination between von Bertalanffy 
and length-weight relationship equations) of the whole 
population of C. hemistiktos was as: Wt = 1375.23*[1-
exp(-0.26*(t+0.74))]3.0746. The longevity of 
C. hemistiktos was estimated to be 11.5 years.  
Reproductive biology: The monthly GSI of male and 
female are given in Figure 5. The mean monthly GSI 
fluctuated 0.09-0.68 and 0.11-1.10 in Novembers and 
June for male and female, respectively.  The GSI 
increased from April to August with a peak in June for 
both sexes. The ratio of males to females was 1.0: 8.0 
and the X2 goodness of fit tests indicated that 
C. hemistiktos had significantly female biased sex 

Table 2. Back calculated lengths at the end of each year of life as well as the annual increment of Cephalopholis hemistiktos. 

Age group No. Observed length Back calculated lengths at the end of each year of life 
   I II III IV V VI VII 
I 42 17.3 18.03       
II 89 24.21 17.43 25.02      
III 152 28.12 17.02 24.60 29.82     
IV 76 32.26 16.47 23.13 28.02 32.22    
V 36 35.19 16.12 22.26 27.89 32.04 35.04   
VI 16 37.91 15.90 21.23 26.80 31.16 34.12 37.16  
VII 7 39.98 15.23 20.80 26.13 30.29 33.06 35.12 38.05 
Mean   16.60 22.84 27.73 31.43 34.07 36.14 38.05 
Increment   16.60 6.24 4.89 3.70 2.65 2.07 1.91 
Increment%    37.59 29.47 22.26 15.94 12.45 11.51 

 

Figure 4. Sectioned sagittal otoliths of Cephalopholis hemistiktos 
((4 annual rings) 32.2 cm TL). MI is the marginal increment). 

Figure 5. Mean monthly gonado-somatic index for Cephalopholis 
hemistiktos. 



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Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2021) 9(2): 105-114 

 

ratio (X2=52.62, P<0.05). Size at first sexual maturity 
was estimated as 25.31 cm and the corresponding age 
was 2.55 years (Fig. 6). The proportion of immature 
fish in aggregated size frequency samples that were 
below the mean size at first sexual maturity (Juvenile 
retention rate) was 32%. The recruitment pattern of 
C. hemistiktos shows defined peaks in recruitment to 
fishery in May and August (14.27 and 12.84%, 
respectively).  
Mortality estimation and fishery assessment: The 
length converted catch curve (Fig. 7) gave the total 
mortality coefficient (Z=0.76; CI 95% of Z=0.68-
0.83y-1) close to that estimated with linearized catch 
curve (Z=0.77y-1). Thus the mean value of total 
mortality 0.765y-1 was chosen for further analysis. 

The mean value of the natural mortality coefficient 
(M) estimated based on the three applied methods was 
0.49y-1 and the survival rate was 0.47y-1. The length 
at first capture (length at 50% capture) was estimated 
as 24.30 cm, which was smaller than the mean size at 
first sexual maturity. The corresponding age at first 
capture was calculated as 2.35 years. The length and 
age at first recruitment (Lr & Tr) were estimated as 
16.0 cm and 0.99 years. The values of Z and M gave a 
value of fishing mortality F=0.28y-1, slightly higher 
than the optimum (Fopt=0.25y-1) and smaller than the 
limit (Flimit=0.33y-1) biological reference point. The 
exploitation rate is very important to estimate the state 
of the stock whether optimum, underexploited or 
overexploited.  

The exploitation rate for C. hemistiktos was 0.36 
which is less than the optimum (E=0.5) given by 
Gulland (1971). Figure 8 shows the yield per recruit 
and biomass per recruit of C. hemistiktos. At the 
current level of fishing mortality and age at first 
capture, the yield per recruit and biomass per recruit 
were estimated as 79.66 and 284.50 g, respectively.  

Based on the results, the increasing of fishing 
mortality at the current level of age at first capture will 
increase the YPR to reach the maximum while the BPR 
will decrease. The relative spawner biomass per 
recruit was estimated as 52.35% of the theoretical 
unexploited level at the existing fishing mortality rate, 
indicating species was exploited within sustainable 

Figure 6. Length at first sexual maturity (LM) for Cephalopholis 
hemistiktos. 

Figure 7. Length converted catch curve of Cephalopholis 
hemistiktos K=0.26y-1, L∞= 43.51 cm. 

Figure 8. Yield per recruit and biomass per recruit curves of 
Cephalopholis hemistiktos (F=0.28year-1; M=0.49 and 
Tc=2.35years. 



110 
 

Farrag et al./ Life history parameters of Yellowfin hind 

limit. Estimates of relative yield per recruit and 
relative biomass per recruit as graphically represented 
in Figure 9. The values of E0.1, E0.5 were 0.76 and 
0.38, respectively, higher than the current level of 
exploitation rate (E=0.36).  

 
Discussions 
In all studies performed on species of the genus 
Cephalopholis, it is necessary to use otolith for ageing 
(Chan and Sadovy, 2002; Araùjo and Martins, 2009). 
Sagittal otolith of C. hemistiktos grow proportionally 
through the life of fish as seen in other Cephalopholis 
species (Trott, 2006; Araùjo and Martins, 2006, 2009). 
Almost all tropical epinephelids and all Cephalopholis 
species lay down increments annually (Craig et al., 
1999; Potts and Manooch, 1999; Chan and Sadovy, 
2002; Bustos et al., 2009; Choat et al., 2009). The 
oldest fish found in this study was 7.0 years old similar 

to C. boenak and C. miniata (9 years) in Gulf of 
Aqaba, Jordan (Wahbeh, 2005); C. urodeta (10 years); 
C. spiloparaea (7 years); C. sexmaculata (8 years) and 
C. argus (5 years) in Papua New Guinea (Fry et al., 
2006); C. argus (6 years) in Red Sea Coast (Mehanna 
et al., 2019). However, the maximum age observed 
differs substantially from what was described for 
C. hemistiktos in Jamaica where specimens of up to 26 
years were found (Mathews and Samuel, 1987); 
C. panamensis in Mexico (14 years) (Craig et al., 
1999); C. fulva in Brazil (25 years) (Araùjo and 
Martins, 2006, 2009); C. taeniops (20 years) in Cape 
Verde Archipelago.   

This study indicated that C. hemistiktos in the 
United Arab Emirates is slightly fast growing species 
(K=0.26 year-1). This is different from that reported by 
Grandcourt et al. (2013) in Emirate of Abu-Dhabi 
(K=0.14), while similar to the result of Mehanna et al. 
(2019) (K=0.26 for C. argus). Negative To is common 
in species that grow rapidly in the first year, and 
slowly later in life (Sadovy et al., 1992; Craig et al., 
1997). In the present study, the To was negative, as 
other works on this genus (Craig et al., 1999; Potts and 
Manooch, 1999; Araùjo and Martins, 2009). 
Asymptotic length (L∞) was estimated as 43.51 cm 
similar to C. fulva (Potts and Manooch, 1999) and 
C. argus (Mehanna et al., 2019). Table 3 shows a 
comparison between the von Bertalanffy growth 
parameters estimated by other authors for 
Cephalopholis species and this study. The variation 
between growth coefficient may be due to different 
localities, methods used, environmental condition, 
fish maximum length and number of samples. 

Table 3. Biogeographic comparison of VBGF parameters (Cephalopholis species). 

Author Location Species L∞ K To 

Potts & Manooch, 1999) South-eastern coast of USA 
C. cruentata 38.50 0.32 0.49 
C. fulva 44.60 0.13 -1.15 

Wahbeh, 2005 Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan C.miniata 58.65 0.08 -1.84 
AraÙjo & Martins, 2006 Central Coast of Brazil C. fulva 31.60 0.14 -5.74 
Mohammad, 2007 Red sea C.argus 52.60 0.16 -1.41 
Grandcourt el al., 2013  United Arab Emirates (Abu-Dhabi) C. hemistiktos 26.20 0.14 -10.9 
Tarich et al., 2015 Cape Verde Archipelago C.taeniops 54.26 0.14 -0.85 
Mehanna et al., 2019 Hurghada Red Sea Coast C.argus 44.22 0.26 1.33 
Present study United Arab Emirates  C.hemistiktos 43.51 0.26 -0.74 

 

Figure 9. Relative yield per recruit and relative biomass per recruit 
of Cephalopholis hemistiktos (M/K = 1.88; Lc/L∞=0.56; Emax= 0.88; 
E 0.1 = 0.76; E 0.5 = 0.38). 



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Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2021) 9(2): 105-114 

 (Wahbeh, 2005; Araùjo and Martins, 2006 and Tarich 
et al., 2015).  

In the present work, Ø of C. hemistiktos was similar 
to C. argus in Red Sea (Mehanna et al., 2019) and 
lower than Cephalopholis species in Red Sea (2.93) 
(Mohammad, 2007). The growth performance index 
estimated by us was higher than that estimated by 
Wahbeh (2005) in Gulf of Aqaba (2.27). Comparison 
with other species of groupers, Ø falls within the range 
2.11-2.65 as reported for species of Cephalopholis 
(Matheson and Huntsman, 1984; Mathews and 
Samuel, 1987; Chan and Sadvoy, 2002). 

In the present study, the b-value was estimated as 
3.0746 which is similar to C. hemistiktos (3.042) and 
C. argus (3.038) (Grandcourt et al., 2013; Mehanna et 
al., 2019). Wahbeh (2005) stated the length-weight 
relationship showed allometric growth in females and 
isometric in males of C. miniata. According to Bennet 
(1970), Fulton’s condition factor ≥0.56 considered as 
well-being bench mark values of a fish, hence fishes 
with condition factor values above the well-being 
bench mark were considered to be in good condition.  

Spawning in groupers tends to be restricted to less 
than half the year, with many species spawning 
primarily during 1 to 2 months (Shapiro, 1987). In the 
present study, the GSI and maturity stage data suggest 
the spawning period in the spring-summer seasons, 
starting in April and ending in August. Grandcourt et 
al. (2013) declared two peaks of GSI of C. hemistiktos, 
during the May to August and October to November. 
The present study agrees with spawning seasons 
reported for groupers from elsewhere (Manickand-
Heilman and Philips, 2000; Mackie, 2000; Chan and 
Sadvoy, 2002). The ratio of males to females was 1.0: 
8.0 and the X2 goodness of fit tests indicated that 
C. hemistiktos has significantly female biased sex 
ratio. 

In the present work, the total mortality was 
0.77year-1 compared to the double value of Z reported 
by Grandcourt et al. (2013). The annual instantaneous 
rate of Z may have been overestimated if larger fish 
were less vulnerable to the fishing gear or if adult fish 
underwent migrations for example. For C. argus, the 
total mortality was estimated as 1.88 and 1.31year-1 in 

Red Sea (Mohammad, 2007; Mehanna et al., 2019, 
respectively). Our estimate of the natural mortality 
rate derived from different methods was 0.49 year-1 
which is higher than that estimated by Mohammad 
(2007) and Grandcourt et al. (2013) where the values 
were 0.44 and 0.21year-1 for C. argus and 
C. hemistiktos, respectively. While the current M was 
lower than that estimated by Mehanna et al. (2019) 
(0.56year-1). 

As the size at first capture (24.30 cm) was smaller 
than the size at first sexual maturity (25.31 cm) and 
the size at which yield per recruit would be optimum 
(Lopt=26.91 cm), an increase in the mesh size for the 
trap fishery should be considered by management 
authorities. This is particularly important given that 
32% of the yield in numbers consisted of fish that were 
below the size at first sexual maturity. If fish were 
retained by traps at the size at which yield per recruit 
would be optimum (26.91 cm), they would have a 
chance to spawn at least one time before reaching the 
mean size at first capture.  

The use of yield per recruit models may be 
particularly restrictive for fast growing tropical 
species with high rates of natural mortality as the 
curves may not reach a maximum within a reasonable 
range of fishing mortality values (Gayanilo and Pauly, 
1997). The result of the present study indicated that, 
with the increasing of fishing mortality and at the 
current level of age at first capture, the YPR increased 
to reach the maximum while the BPR will decrease. 
The relative yield per recruit analyses indicated that an 
increase in the size at first capture to that which would 
maximise yield per recruit would be associated with 
an increase in yield at the existing fishing mortality 
rate. The specified precautionary target (Fopt=0.5*M) 
and limit (Flimit=2/3*M) values are more appropriate 
biological reference points in light of the constraints 
of the yield per recruit model. In the present work, the 
value of fishing mortality i.e. F=0.28y-1 was close to 
the optimum (Fopt=0.25y-1) and smaller than the limit 
(Flimit=0.33y-1) biological reference point, indicating 
that species was exploited within sustainable limit.  

In conclusion, the present study gave the life 
history parameters (age, growth and mortality) of 



112 
 

Farrag et al./ Life history parameters of Yellowfin hind 

subordinate species C. hemistiktos and provide more 
details about the impact of fishing gear on the 
demersal species, and suggest that, both reduction in 
fishing effort and mesh size regulations will be 
required for the demersal trap fishery.   
 
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