Abstract
The current stock status of two Parrotfish, Hipposcarus harid and Scarus ferrugineus in Jeddah was assessed. Scales were used for age determination and back calculations of length-at-ages. The growth parameters were estimated to be: the asymptotic length L-infinity = 54.044 cm, the growth coefficient K = 0.168 year(-1), and age at zero length t(o) = -0.707 year for H. harid and L-infinity = 51.238 cm, K = 0.170 year(-1), and t(o) = -0.889 year for S. ferrugineus. The total 'Z', natural 'M', fishing 'F' mortality coefficients and current exploitation 'E cur ' were 0.96, 0.294, 0.670 year(-1), and 0.69 year(-1), respectively for H. harid and 0.77, 0.299, 0.471 year(-1), and 0.61 year(-1) respectively for S. ferrugineus. The maximum yield per recruit at the current fishing mortality was 108.1 g for H. harid and 137.6 g for S. ferrugineus. The biological reference points: F-max = 0.401 year(-1) and F-0.1 = 0.245 year(-1) for H. harid and F-max = 0.434 year(-1) and F-0.1 = 0.307 year(-1) for S. ferrugineus were lower than the current fishing mortality, reflecting an over-exploitation for both species. The current fishing mortality is recommended to be decreased to the target reference point F-0.1 = 0.453 year(-1) for H. harid and F-0.1 = 0.466 year(-1) for S. ferrugineus after increasing the age at first capture to be 3 years for both species.