Growth and Maturity of Carcharhinus dussumieri (Muller and Hellen, 1839) in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

This study aimed to estimate the growth pattern and to determine age at maturity (Lm(50)) and longevity of white cheek shark, Carcharhinus dussumieri (Muller and Hellen, 1839) during 2014 and 2015. This species is being severely exploited in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, so growth, maturity and diet will be critical for stock assessments and management advice. Longevity estimates based on vertebral ageing were 8 and 13 years for male and female of C. dussumieri. Results indicated a Gompertz growth model and a logistic growth model for females and males, respectively. The obtained curve revealed a sigmoid relation between clasper length and total length of the shark. Females matured from 60 to 68 cm and their mean maturity size was 64.17 cm. Male C. dussumieri matured within a similar size range (61-68 cm) with mean maturity size of 63.14 cm.