Abundance of Cutlassfish Trichiurus lepturus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Bushehr Waters, Persian Gulf

The abundance of cutlassfish was studied in the fishing grounds of Bushehr waters between May to August 2010. Stratified random sampling scheme from 40 trawl stations was used. Catch rates (catch per unit area, CPUA) and total biomass of all the samples were estimated. Mean CPUA and the total biomass of Trichiurus lepturus were estimated as 6104.6 ± 956.4 kgnm-2 and 3765.9 tonnes respectively. There was a significant difference between the mean CPUA of different depths and seasons. This study has provided the first study of biomass and CPUA in Bushehr Waters. The data collected in this study can be used as the basis for a long-term stock monitoring program in the region.