Browsing by Author "Nazeer, Zahid"
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- Ecology, life history, and fisheries potential of the flathead lobster (Thenus orientalis) in the Arabian GulfPublication . Rabaoui, Lotfi; Yacoubi, Lamia; Lin, Yu-Jia; Joydas, Thadickal V.; Qurban, Mohammad A.; Premlal, Panickan; Gopalan, Jinoy; Nazeer, Zahid; Vijayakumaran, Manambrakat; Khan, Syed Ajmal; Roa-Ureta, RubenThis study, which included examination of the distribution and life history and a stock assessment of the flathead lobster (Thenus orientalis), is the first of its kind in the waters of Saudi Arabia in the Arabian Gulf, also known as the Persian Gulf. The flathead lobster is widely distributed in this region, although it is more abundant in the central and northern Arabian Gulf. Carapace lengths at 50% and 95% maturity are 59 and 65 mm for females and 58 and 71 mm for males. The fecundity of 4 berried females ranged from 26,000 to 76,000 eggs per spawning, and the fertilization rate exceeded 97%. Length-frequency data were consistent with just 2 cohorts, indicating that this species has a short life span and high growth coefficient (K=0.846 year(-1)). Large fishing boats (called dhows) accounted for more than 98% of the total landings. Estimates of natural mortality rates from use of generalized depletion models have high statistical precision and a magnitude compatible with short life history. In addition, abundance levels estimated with the depletion model are sufficient to support a sustainable small-scale fishery either as bycatch of shrimp trawlers or as a resource targeted with specialized gear. A targeted fishery for flathead lobster could be set during the off months of the shrimp trawl fishery (February-July), reducing interference with the reproduction cycle.
- Essential fish habitats of demersal fish in the western Arabian GulfPublication . Lin, Yu-Jia; Roa-Ureta, Ruben; Pulikkoden, Abdu Rahiman Kambrath; Premlal, Panickan; Nazeer, Zahid; Qurban, Mohammad A.; Rabaoui, LotfiInformation about habitats occupied by aquatic organisms while completing critical stages of their lives, called essential fish habitats, is crucial for their sustainability. In this work, we determine essential fish habitats (nursery and spawning grounds) of several fish species inhabiting Saudi territorial waters in the western Arabian Gulf using data from multiple surveys (2013-2016), geostatistics, and indicator species analysis. We built geostatistical maps of spatial distributions of juvenile and mature fish and examined the strength of association of each species to its observed nursery and spawning areas. Fish nursery areas were generally located in nearshore locations while spawning areas were located in offshore waters. The patterns of nursery and spawning grounds were highly varied among species, supporting a hypothesis of habitat-species heterogeneity: different species use different locations as nursery and spawning grounds. This information can be used as a roadmap for future evidence-based spatial planning and ecosystem-based management.
- Habitat-forming organisms in the offshore seabed of the western Arabian GulfPublication . Lin, Yu-Jia; Roa-Ureta, Ruben; Premlal, Panickan; Nazeer, Zahid; Pulikkoden, Abdu Rahiman Kambrath; Qurban, Mohammad A.; Prihartato, Perdana K.; Alghamdi, Hamed A.; Qasem, Ali M.; Rabaoui, LotfiSome macro-benthic organisms, such as macroalgae, bryozoans, sponges, and gorgonian corals, can create heterogeneous frameworks of habitats in the surrounding seabed. Such frameworks are important benthic ecosystems, but knowledge of them is fairly limited in the Arabian Gulf, the hottest sea in the world. In this study, the presence of macroalgae, bryozoans, sponges, and gorgonian corals was discovered in the seabed of the western Arabian Gulf. These organisms had positive co-occurrences with a preference for depths of 20 to 50 m. A hotspot of spatial distribution of macroalgae and bryozoans was also identified, located in the northwestern part of the Arabian Gulf. These habitat forming organisms were distributed in a patchy pattern with low to moderate levels of density. They were positively associated with several commercial fishes, suggesting their importance to fishery. Our discovery extends the distribution of marine habitat-forming organisms into the offshore waters of the subtropical Arabian Gulf.
- Strengths and weaknesses in the long-term sustainability of two sympatric seabreams (Argyrops spinifer and Rhabdosargus haffara, Sparidae)Publication . Lin, Yu-Jia; Rabaoui, Lotfi; Maneja, Rommel H.; Pulikkoden, Abdu Rahiman Kambrath; Premlal, Panickan; Nazeer, Zahid; Qurban, Mohammad A.; Abdulkader, Khaled; Prihartato, Perdana K.; Qasem, Ali M.; Fita, Nabil; Roa-Ureta, RubenArgyrops spinifer and Rhabdosargus haffara are two sympatric seabream species making important contributions to fisheries landings in the western Arabian/Persian Gulf. We identified the strengths and weaknesses in the long-term sustainability of A. spinifer and R. haffara stocks by integrating multiple sources of data, including fisheries catch and effort statistics, life history traits, scientific trawl surveys and historical length frequency distribution. Four strengths were identified in A. spinifer: wide distribution of juveniles, positive association to the network of de facto fishing exclusion areas created by hundreds of oil-gas facilities, early maturation and the existence of large and old individuals. A. spinifer suffers from two potential weaknesses: slow growth rate and higher exploitation pressure on the small-sized individuals. R. haffara, on the other hand, has a strength of having a short life span and a fast growth rate, characteristics that make it robust to unfavourable conditions. R. haffara suffers from two weaknesses: the lack of association to the oil and gas facilities, and the preference for nearshore shallow waters with stronger negative anthropogenic impacts. Identified strengths and weaknesses of these two sparids provided a preliminary assessment about their long-term sustainability, as well as a roadmap about how to develop different management strategies to meet specific objectives.