Reproductive Biology of Bogue, Boops boops Linneaus, 1758 in the Aegean Sea and Sea of Marmara, Türkiye

Bogue (Boops boops Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most economic and common species in Türkiye. The bogue individuals were obtained monthly from the commercial catches of gillnet fisheries from May to August 2024 and purse seine fisheries from September 2024 to April 2024 around the Northern Aegean Sea and Southwest Sea of Marmara, Türkiye. The 378 total individuals consisted of 176 females, 201 males and 1 unspecified in the Aegean Sea. The 370 total individuals consisted of 214 females, 154 males and 2 individuals unspecified in the Sea of Marmara. The female:male ratio was calculated as 0.9:1.0 in the Aegean Sea and 1.4:1.0 in the Sea of Marmara. The total length and weight of individuals varied from 10.6 to 28.6 cm (17.52±0.15) and 8.1 to 236.86 g (54.20±2.43) in the Aegean Sea, respectively, and the total length was 10.8 to 28.5 cm (17.92±0.18) and the weight was 13.08 to 399.88 g (76.54±3.14) in the Sea of Marmara. The positive allometric growth was found for females, males and all sexes in both seas. The first maturity length was determined as 12.2 cm TL for females, 15.8 cm TL for males in the Aegean Sea, whereas it was 12.8 cm TL for females, 15.1 cm TL for males in the Sea of Marmara. The reproductive period is estimated between January and May in the Aegean Sea, while February to May in the Sea of Marmara. The total fecundity varied between 2770-85112 (mean:20021±2027) in the Sea of Marmara, while it was 2740-309457 (mean:42834±9194) in the Aegean Sea. As results of this study, some differences were determined in sex ratio, spawning period, and fecundity from the reproductive characteristics between the Sea of Marmara and Aegean Sea. Due to the limited scientific data on the reproductive biology of B.boops in Türkiye, the results of the present study should contribute to the strategic assessment, management, and sustainability of B.boops.