A Study on Biological Aspects of Dolphin Fish, Coryphaena hippurus Conceming its Future Culture in Oman Sea and Southern Coastal Waters

In this study, sampling from three main fishing areas in Oman Sea was carried out from September 1995 to August 1996. Biometry and dissection were done for 273 fish. The length for samllest and largest fish was measured 30 and over 128 centimeters respectively. Observation of stomach contents showed that maximum and minimunl contents were 49.6 and 2.3 percent, belonging to fishes and octopus respectively. Cattle-fish and squid were second and thrid food preferences. With the exception of fish with length between 110 and 130 centimeters which only feed on mollusks, others mainly feed on fish. Year-round presence of gonads at maturations stages of 4 and 5 in both sexes, indicate long spawning period mainly from Agust to March. The lowest and highest rate of fatness were 0.72 and 1.9 in males and 0.68 and 1.2 in females respectively. (9), No.2, 2000 Relationship between length and weight in both sexes indicate that dolphin fish has isometric growth in coastal water of Oman Sea. Long natural spawning period of this fish in coastal waters of the Oman Sea indicates that it is a suitable fish for artificial propagation.