Reproductive biology of greasy grouper, Epinephelus tauvina and coral hind grouper Cephalopholis miniata (Family: Serranidae) in the southern Red Sea, Shalatien, Egypt

Groupers are the main component of commercial fisheries in the Red Sea. The reproductive biology of Epinephelus tauvina and Cephalopholis miniata collected at the Shalatien landing site in the southern Egyptian Red Sea were investigated from January to December 2017. A total of 212 specimens of E. tauvina with a total length range of 23.6 to 70.3 cm and 243 specimens of C. miniata with a total length range of 17.4 to 42.1 cm were examined. Females of E. tauvina and C. miniata accounted for 61.7 and 61.9% of the total fish sampled, showing a 1:1.61 and 1:1.63 male- to-female sex ratio, respectively. The monthly distribution of maturity stages and gonadosomatic index values showed that the spawning season for both sexes was extended from April to October for E. tauvina and from April to September for C. miniata. The lengths at first sexual maturity of the males and females of E. tauvina were estimated at 49 and 48.1 cm, respectively, while those for C. miniata were estimated at 23.2 and 22.7 cm, respectively. All our results can help in the proper management of these valuable resources.