POPULATION INDICES OF HORSE MACKEREL IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF BLACK SEA IN THE MODERN PERIOD

Purpose. Analysis of the main population parameters of horse mackerel caught in different areas of the Black Sea in 2011 - 2013. Methodology. Individuals of the Mediterranean horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus Staindachner, 1868) were caught by bottom traps in the coastal area of Sevastopol, as well as by trawls in areas of the South Coast, Alushta-Sudak, cape Takil from 2011 to 2013. The ichthiological data for Balaklavskaya and Sevastopolskaya (including Peschanaya, Karantinnaya, Alexandrovskaya bays, an open area in front of Karantinnaya and Peschanaya bays) bays were separated. Size and weight of fish, sex and stage of maturity were examined. Age of horse mackerel were determined using otoliths. Findings. Based on the analysis of the size-mass, sex and age structure of Trachurus mediterraneus Staindachner caught in different areas of the Black Sea we can conclude that near Sevastopol and Balaklava, two distinct groups T. mediterraneus are inhabiting but relate to one northern herd. Study of autumn-winter catches of horse mackerel in the areas of the southern coast of Crimea, Sudak - Alushta and cape Takil allowed to see different distribution of fish of different ages and size-weight characteristics that mainly due to seasonal migration of this specie. Originality. It is first study of population parameters of adult specimens of horse mackerel in the various areas of the Black Sea in the modern period. Practical value. The Black Sea horse mackerel is a mass commercial specie of fish, as well as a food of predators of Black Sea. Scientific monitoring of this specie is important in view of the fact that the herds of horse mackerel in the Black Sea has still not recovered.