Assessing fish length-otolith relationships in Scorpaenidae species: Implications for sustainable fisheries management in Antalya Bay, Türkiye

This study explores relationships between fish size (total length) and otolith dimensions (weight, length, width) in four scorpaenid species from Antalya Bay, Türkiye, supporting sustainable fisheries management. Key contributions include: (1) Stock assessment, strong fish length-otolith correlations (especially in Scorpaena elongata, Scorpaena notata, Scorpaena scrofa, and Helicolenus dactylopterus) improve age-based stock assessments, aiding catch limit setting and population monitoring. (2) Species-specific management, variable relationships (e.g., otolith weight vs length in S. elongata/notata, otolith length/width in S. scrofa/dactylopterus) suggest tailored measures, like size-selective fishing to protect juveniles. (3) Ecosystem-based management, otolith-derived size estimates enhance food web modeling and biodiversity impact assessments. By refining otolith-to-size tools, this study aids policymaking and conservation, promoting Mediterranean fisheries’ sustainability and socio-ecological balance.