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Population Index and Growth Estimation Based On SLW Index of the Sea Cucumber (Holothuria arguinensis Koehler & Vaney, 1906) in the Moroccan Waters of the Atlantic Coast

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Abstract

The population structure and growth parameters of the commercially important species of sea cucumber Holothuria arguinensis in Moroccan waters was studied, being the first study reported along these waters. We collected 455 individuals of H. arguinensis at Skhirat, and 209 at Souiria K’dima, Northern and center Atlantic of Morocco. To avoid deviation from the accurate measurements in sea cucumber related to statistical estimation because of the elasticity of the body wall, we used a compound index which merged length and width to give the SLW index (square root of length multiplied by width) and its related modifications such as Le (recalculated length) were assessed and different morphometric relationships were also explored, the results indicate that recalculated length appears to be more valuable and helpful in obtaining an accurate length of sea cucumber. The student’s t-test revealed that H. arguinensis has allometric growth (b ≠ 1 or b ≠ 3, P < 0.05). The von Bertalanffy growth function including L∞, K and t0 were estimated to be L∞ = 25.96 cm, K = 0.17 yr.−1, t0 = –1.55 year at Skhirat, and L∞ = 25.44 cm, K = 0.29 yr−1, t0 = –1.02 year at Souiria K’dima. The longevity in H. arguinensis was high (8.51 years at Skhirat and 6.81 years at Souiria k’dima) and the estimated natural mortality of H. arguinensis was low (0.47 year−1 at Skhirat and 0.67 year−1 at Souiria k’dima) when analyzed against other sea cucumber species, which indicated that this organism might be resistant to predation. Similarly, these findings will be used to establish a sustainable management strategy to exploit this marine resource and support the fishery development plans and aquaculture.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to appreciate all the fisheries department staff at the National Institute of Fisheries Research in Casablanca for assistance in the field and laboratory. Special thanks to Chantal Conand, Mercedes González-Wangüemert and Alicia Poot-Salazar for their help and valuable comments to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco

    Imane HADDI, Fatiha BENZHA, Mehdi MAANAN & Hassan RHINANE

  2. Department of Fisheries, National Institute of Fisheries Research (INRH), Casablanca, Morocco

    Imane HADDI, Najib CHAROUKI & Hakima ZIDANE

  3. Marine Reference Collection and Resource Centre, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

    Saima SIDDIQUE

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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception. Material preparation, data collection and analysis, were performed by Imane Haddi, Mehdi Maanan, Hassan Rhinane and Hakima Zidane. Imane Haddi, Najib Charouki and Saima Siddique verified the analytical methods. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Imane Haddi and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors discussed the results and approved the final manuscript.

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HADDI, I., BENZHA, F., MAANAN, M. et al. Population Index and Growth Estimation Based On SLW Index of the Sea Cucumber (Holothuria arguinensis Koehler & Vaney, 1906) in the Moroccan Waters of the Atlantic Coast. Thalassas 38, 535–551 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-021-00362-9

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