Author(s): Khalfan M Al-Rashdi and Michel R Claereboudt

Abstract: The first official records of the exploitation of Holothuria scabra in Oman were reported around 10 years ago. Unfortunately, the population of this exploited stock followed the same rapid decline as most exploited population of this sea cucumber elsewhere. H. scabra has always been part of the traditional exploitation of the benthos in Ghubbat Hashish of Mahout Bay but the foreign demand for the product overseas has put increased pressure on the resource and led to overfishing. To fill the need for a management strategy as well as to establish the background studies necessary to assess the aquaculture potential of this species in Oman, it was thus necessary to assess its reproductive biology. The reproductive cycle of H. scabra population in Mahout was determined from monthly variations of the gonad somatic index based on dry weight relationships. Its reproductive status was examined from October 2008 to May 2010 with 15-30 individuals collected monthly. An annual period of reproduction was observed during late spring (pre-monsoon period) when a peak of GI index was recorded at 12% and 9% in April 2009 and 2010, respectively. The size at first maturity was estimated at 16.5 cm which corresponds to approximately 600 g fresh weight. The spawning appeared to be correlated to high temperature and precipitation which both may serve as exogenous cues for H. scabra gamete release. The application of this study in fisheries management and aquaculture is discussed.

Pages: 100-108  |  1315 Views  285 Downloads

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