Spawning season and fecundity of Sepia pharaonis In Bushehr coastal waters (Persian Gulf)

Fecundity rate and spawning season for cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis), a commercially important species in Busheher coastal waters were studied from December 2007 to May 2008. We collected 142 specimens and after their sexuality were 18 males, 3 immatures, 16 first stage pieces, 14 second stage pieces and 91 pieces in third and fourth stages. The assessed biological characteristics such as: Mantle length, weight of total body, Nidamental gland, weight of head, weight of ovary and fecundity rate. We recorded 201.8±6.8mm for mean, 280mm for maximum and 115mm for minimum mantle length. The mean body total weight was 895.8±143g, and the maximum was 2098g, while its minimum was 241.13g. The mean, maximum and minimum Nidamental gland weight was 41.1±18.6, 126.8, and 0.2g, respectively. For the relationship between mantle length (ML, mm) and fecundity we found the linear regression equation: Fecundity = -630.68+5.22ML. The mean, maximum and minimum fecundity rate was 494±131, 1246 and 178, respectively. The results ofthis study showed spawning season for Sepia pharaonis in the coastal waters of Busheher Province to be from the end of February to the end of June.