Assessment of two cichlids stocks with virtual population analysis in Garmat Ali River, Basrah, Iraq

The study is an attempt to evaluate the population characteristics and virtual analysis (VPA) of two invasive species (Oreochromis niloticus Oreochromis aureus) using FiSAT II software based on data collected from Garmat Ali River, Iraq. A total 4391 individuals (2727 O. 1664 were measured for length-frequency October 2019 September 2020. Length-weight relationships derived, indicating allometric growth both species. asymptotic length (L∞) rate constant (K) estimated be 30.5 cm 0.45 29.9 0.21 aureus. annual rates fishing (F) exploitation (E) found 2.24 0.69, respectively, aureus 0.48 0.43, respectively. present below biological target reference points, E0.1 Emax, thus expressing a case under-exploitation Besides, result revealed that majority harvested at lengths 20 17 cm, Also, first capture (L50) considerably higher than their maturity (Lm). Therefore, management purposes, this suggests more yields can obtained by increasing activities these species, such as number boats decreasing mesh size decline its abundance in long term.