Signs of oil pollution on fishes in the Arabian Gulf

الملخص EN

Forty five fish species were collected from oil polluted areas in the Arabian Gulf during the R/V Mt.

Mitchell survey in the region between Kuwait and Qatar (April-May, 1992).

A total number of 788 fish individuals were found.

The highest number of fish, comprising more than 40%, were found in station A, followed by station D (18%), station E (15%) and station F (11%) respectively.

The most dominant fish species were the slipmouth (Leiognathus fas-ciatus), the pigface bream (Lethrinus kallopterus) and the therapoa (Thera-ponputa), comprising 27.4%, 11.5% and 11.4% respectively.

The length to weight relationships and otoliths growth of the Lethrinus kallopterus were studied.

The length to weight relationship is linear.

Comparisons between fish from this study with those from unpolluted areas indicate no significant differences in otolith growths.