A preliminary survey of fishes in the Arabian gulf after war time oil spillage

Abstract EN

-A preliminary survey of the fish fauna of the coastal waters of the western side of the Arabian Gulf, between Kuwait and Qatar was carried out during leg IV of the R/V MT.

Mitchell (23 April - 3 May 1992).

About 40 fish species were recorded during this survey.

Leiognathus fas-ciatus was the most common forming 29% of the total catch, followed by Lethrinus spp.

(12%) and Pelates quadrilineatus (12%).

Both the species richness and fish population density exhibited wide and irregular variation at the different stations.

Significant numbers of juveniles of 14 different species were captured indicating successful spawning and recruitment since the Gulf War (Jan.-Feb.

1991).

Analysis of adult specimens of Lethrinidae showed no significant change in growth; sexual maturation and spawning were normal