Population Dynamics and Fishery of Roughear Scad Decapterus tabl Berry 1968 (Perciformes: Carangidae) in Camotes Sea, Central Philippines

Population dynamics and fishery status of the roughear scad, Decapterus tabl Berry 1968 caught from Camotes Sea, Central Philippines were investigated. Asymptotic length (L) was 32.55 cm while growth coefficient (K) was 0.97 year -1 . Total mortality (Z) was 5.57 year -1 while natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were 1.71 year -1 and 3.86 year -1 respectively. Exploitation level (E) was 0.69. The length at which 50% of the fish were retained by the gear (L 50 ) was 17.48 cm. The recruitment pattern was continuous with one major peak in the months of February-March. The coefficient "b" of the length-weight relationship (LWR) was 2.986 (0.178) indicating isometric growth while results of the length-length relationships (LLRs) were highly correlated (r 2 =0.99, p<0.01).