This study was carried out on /516/ fish individuals of Chub Mackerel Scomber
japonicus (Houttuyn, 1782), which were caught from the Coastal water of Latakia
province (Levantine basin) from December 2014 to November 2015, to identify the
evolution
stages of sexual maturity (by morphological and histological methods)
and determine the spawning period of this important economic species. The results
showed that Scomber japonicus begin with sexual maturity from the beginning of
February and extend until mid-May, with a single peak in Mars. The average value
of the gonado-somatic index (GSI) was (12.46 ± 1.52)% for males and (13.21 ± 3.9)% for
female in Mars. And the total body length at sexual maturity was (21.5) cm for
males, and was (23.5) cm for females. The development stages and gonad maturation
in this specie, are similar with regard to the tissue and the form of gonads and
according to the six gonad maturation steps.
