Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science1816-49271996-0751Academic Journals Inc.10.3923/jfas.2017.95.105Al-AbriNadir M. A. PiontkovskiSergey RabbanihaMahnaz Al-HashmiKhalid ChesalinaTatyana 22017122Background: The fish larval abundance and their species composition both could serve as sensible indicators for predicting catches of mature specimens. In the Sea of Oman, seasonal changes of physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the upper mixed layer are mediated by monsoonal winds. However, available data do not allow one to elucidate statistically reliable seasonal changes of fish larvae communities. Materials and Methods: A plankton net (60 cm in diameter, equipped with mesh size 400 μm) was used to collect samples. A binocular microscope (model SZ-X7) was used to identify, enumerate and measure fish larvae. Results: A total of 1049 fish larvae specimens were collected and their morphometric characteristics identified for the monthly sampling carried out in 2013-2015. Fish larvae were represented by 39 families, 50 genera and 55 species. The top ten most abundant families were Clupeidae, Pomacentridae, Sparidae, Carangidae, Blenniidae, Scombridae, Mullidae, Gerreidae, Chanidae and Sphyraenidae. Conclusion: Seasonal changes of the total fish larvae abundance revealed two peaks corresponding to the time of North-East monsoon and spring inter-monsoon (SIM). The Shannon diversity index was highest during SIM (1.62±0.3). For this season, the total abundance of development stages was 59 ind/100 m3 for the yolk-sac stage, 556 ind/100 m3 for pre-flexion, 175 ind/100 m3 for flexion and 117 ind/100 m3 for the post-flexion stage. The Sardinella spp., fish larvae were the most abundant throughout the year. Seasonal changes of these larvae were consistent with artisanal sardine landings in the region. Consequently, data on fish larvae abundance could be treated as a sensible indicator for predicting seasonal catches of sardines in the region.]]>Stephens, Jr. J.E., J.E. Hose and M.S. Love,19881988pp: 91-105pp: 91-105Young, P.C., J.M. Leis and H.F. Hausfeld,198631209222Doyle, M.J., W.W. Morse and A.W. Kendall Jr.,199353588644Smith, M.M. and C.P. Heemstra,19866th Edn.,Pages: 1047Pages: 1047Christie, M.R., B.N. Tissot, M.A. Albins, J.P. Beets and Y. Jia et al.,20102010Chesalina, T., L. Al-Kharusi, A. Al-Aisry, N. Al-Abri, E. Al-Mukhaini, A. Al-Maawali and L. Al-Hasani,201333042Nellen, W.,19731973pp: 415-430pp: 415-430Houde, E.D., A.H. Almatar, J.C. Leak and C.E. Down,19861986Al-Hashmi, K.A., M. Claereboudt, A. Al-Azri and S. Piontovski, 20104107114Pous, S., X. Carton and P. Lazure,20133111Piontkovski, S., A. Al-Azri and K. Al-Hashmi,2011a in the Gulf of Oman compared to the open Arabian Sea regions.]]>3277037715Krishnamurti, T.N.,19811981Smith, P.E. and S.L. Richardson,1977Fahay, M.P.,198343423Fahay, M.P.,2007Pages: 1696Pages: 1696Leis, J.M. and B.M. Carson-Ewart,2000Pages: 850Pages: 850Leis, J.M. and D.S. Rennis,1983Pages: 269Pages: 269Moser, H.G., W.J. Richardson, D.M. Cohen, M.P. Fahay, A.W. Kendall Jr. and S.L. Richards,1984Pages: 760Pages: 760Rimmer, D.W.,1987Pages: 20Pages: 20Neira, F.J. and A.G. Miskiewicz,1998Pages: 474Pages: 474Okiyama, M.,1988Pages: 1154Pages: 1154Ozawa, T.,1986Pages: 430Pages: 430Richards, W.J.,2008Pages: 329Pages: 329Shannon, C.E.,194827379423Kistler, R., W. Collins, S. Saha, G. White and J. Woollen et al.,200182247267Wang, Z., S.F. DiMarco, S. Ingle, L. Belabbassi and L.H. Al-Kharusi,201490152165Thangaraja, M. and A. Al-Aisry,20012001pp: 1336Rabbaniha, M., S.A.M. Golsefid and F. Owfi,201413427436Vosoghi, G.H., M.R. Fatemi, S. Jamili, A.R. Nikoyan and M. Rabbaniha,20094136142Morote, E., M.P. Olivar, F. Villate and I. Uriarte,2008Sardinella aurita, larvae in relation to plankton availability in the NW Mediterranean.]]>30807816Cushing, D.H.,199026249293Piontkovski, S.A., H.S. Al-Oufi and S. Al-Jufaili,2014Sardinella longiceps landings in the governorate of Muscat (the Sea of Oman).]]>765060Haleem, S.Z.A., N. Jayabalan, F. Al-Kiyumi, L. Al-Kharusi, S. Al-Habsi and A. Al-Marzouqi,2011Sardinella longiceps, Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta and Indian scad Decapterus russeli) from the Sultanate of Oman.]]>2011Brothers, E.B., D.M.B. Williams and P.F. Sale,198376319324Thresher, R.E., P.L. Colin and L.J. Bell,19892420434Victor, B.C.,198690317326Platt, T., C. Fuentes-Yaco and K.T. Frank,2003423398399Batty, R.S. and J.H.S. Blaxter,1992170187201MAF.,2011Pages: 156Pages: 156Dhulkhed, M.H., C. Muthiah, G.S. Rao and N.S. Radhakrishnan,19821982Samuel, C.T.,196736167Al-Abdessalaam, T.Z.S.,1995Pages: 412Pages: 412