A Common Croaker Species, but be Ignored
for Years
Johnius taiwanensis
is a newly described species from the Family Sciaenidae (Perciformes),
and commonly found in shallow coastal waters along both sides of the
Taiwan Strait. Researchers mainly from Xiamen University further
investigated its reproductive biology using gonadosomatic index and
gonad histology analyses, and documented its spawning season, minimum
sizes for female and male maturity, and the sizes at 50% maturity. The
evidences of hydrated oocytes, sometimes with post-ovulatory follicles,
observed in female ovaries further help us identify its spawning
grounds, which confirmed to be associated with estuarine habitats. The
peak spawning season of J. taiwanensis
was in July-September for females. Therefore, the species can be partly
protected under the current Chinese domestic marine fishery management
measures, i.e. the fishing moratorium in 1st May-16th August, adjusted slightly with different fishing gears.




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