Length-weight relationships for 10 elasmobranch species from the Oman Sea

Length-weight relationships (LWRs) were estimated for ten elasmobranch species from Iranian waters of the Oman Sea. All specimens were collected by bottom trawl (mesh size 80mm in the cod end) between May and December 2014. Atotal of 509 individuals (107 Torpedo sinuspersici, 68 Rhinobatos punctifer, 63 Chaenogaleus macrostoma, 72 Himantura walga, 80 Himantura gerrardi, 58 Gymnura poecilura, 4 Himantura uarnak, 4 Rhinoptera javanica, 14 Aetobatus flagellum, and 39 Pastinachus sephen) were sampled and studied. Results showed that most species had positive allometric or isometric growth but that more studies were needed for final decisions on growth patterns. Both the disk length-body weight (DL/BW) and disk width-body weight (DW/BW) relationships also showed a good fit, reinforcing the credibility of the data in relation to the LWRs. This study is the first report of LWRs for these elasmobranchs in the northern Oman Sea.