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International Journal of Marine Science 2014, Vol.4, No.38, 1-4
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3
Figure 2 A: Normal fish specimen of
Pampus argenteus
(TL
183 mm, SL 173 mm). B: Abnormal fish specimen (TL 250
mm, SL 168 mm)
Figure 3 Radiograph of A. normal specimen of
Pampus
argenteus
(TL 183 mm, SL 173 mm). B. abnormal specimen
(TL 250 mm, SL 168). Caudal fin of abnormal specimen
anomaly in the caudal fin will impair the flexibility
of the tail, so hindering the performance of the fish
(including the capacity to get food and to avoid
predators). As far as the author is aware, no similar
case of anomalies is reported on any other fish
species.
There are several potential environmental factors that
cause the caudal fin deformities, these are: heavy
metals such as As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn (Sloof, 1982);
and the effect of exposure to light and heat during
reproduction (Koo & Johnston, 1978). The data for
temperature of sea water shown to be higher than
those reported by Thangaraja et al. (2011) for the same
area and the results of the heavy metals analysis has
shown that the levels of of As, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn
exceeded the standard values in sea water. Such
factors are also reported by others to be present in the
Omani waters of the Arabian Gulf where biota in the
Omani waters has shown to be exposed to different
environmental factors and vulnerable to different
levels of heavy metals (Reid et al., 2004; De Mora et
al., 2004, 2005; Tolosa et al., 2005; Araghi, 2010).
Those environmental and pollution factors could well
affect the specimen of
P. argenteus
as they are shown
to be the cause behind skeletal anomalies in the other
fish species collected from the Arabian Gulf area
(Laith Jawad, unpublished data).
In the present report, the percentage of the deformed
fish is moderate (4%), but on the other hand is
alarming. If such percentage showed gradual increase
in the future, then it could influence the fishery
especially
P. argenteus
is considered high commercially
important species (Tutman et al., 2000).
Acknowledgments
I would also like to thank the Ministry of Fisheries Wealth,
Marine Science and Fisheries Centre, Ministry of Fisheries
Wealth and the directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries
Developmental Fund for giving us the opportunity to work on
the fish samples within the qualitative and quantitative
distribution of marine organisms in Sultanate of Oman and to
provide the appropriate financial support.
References
Al-Mamary J. M., Jawad L.A., Al-Rasadi I. H. and Al-Habsi S.H., 2010,
First record of dorsal and anal fin deformities in silver pomfrets,
Pampus
argenteus
(Stromateidae, Actinopterygii). Anals du Biologia 32: 73-77
Alyahya H., El-Gendy A.H., Al Farraj S. and El-Hedeny M., 201,
Evaluation of heavy metal pollution in the Arabian Gulf using the clam
Meretrix meretrix
Linnaeus, 1758. Water, Air and Soil Pollution
214:499-507
Araghi P.E., 2010, Coral reefs in Persian Gulf and Oman Sea: An integrated
perspective on some important stressors. Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Sciences 6: 48-56