Reproductive performance of wild and hatchery-reared Black Sea turbot, psetta maxima, in the Southern Black Sea coast

Abstract

In this study, spawning period, total fecundity, fertilization and hatching rates of wild and hatchery-reared turbot, Psetta maxima, were investigated. Fish were spawned over a 3-month period, from April to June. Wild broodstock consisted of sixteen females with a mean weight of 3742 +/- 1509 g. Hatchery-reared broodstock consisted of seventeen females with a mean weight of 3604 +/- 1398 g. Mean total fecundity was 2.4 +/- 1.71x10(6) and 2.3 +/- 1.75x10(6) eggs per female for wild and hatchery-reared broodstock, respectively. Fertilization and hatching rates were 59.2 +/- 17.07% and 67.3 +/- 30.67% for wild and 67.1 +/- 18.87% and 61.3 +/- 30.85% for hatchery-reared broodstock. the reproductive parameters of wild and hatchery reared turbot showed no significant difference, which warrants further investigation of both in provision of a sustainable fishery.