GROWTH MODELS COMPARISON IN SEABASS (Dicentrarchus labrax L.1738) CULTURE

In this research, the growth models (von Bertalanffy, Logistic and Chapman-Richard methods) were compared in the cage culture of seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) which are economically valuable species. The growth data obtained from the 5th months when the fish stocked to the cages to the 21th months when the harvesting done were used. The methods were compared and afterwards evaluated by Akaike Information Criteria (AIC). While the average error square was 1187,8 in Von Bertalanffy method, it was 236,2 in logistic model. Correlation coefficient were 0.86 and 0.84 in Chapman-Richards and Bertalanffy methods, respectively. Appropriate methods for growth description were suggested according to Akaike Information Criteria. These growth patterns suggested in sea bass may be used to assess growth parameters in other cultured fish.