Population dynamics of the green mussel Perna viridis from the high spat-fall coastal water of Malacca, Peninsular Malaysia

Population parameters such as asymptotic length (L_∞), growth coefficient (K), mortality rates (Z, F and M), exploitation level (E) and recruitment pattern of green mussel Perna viridis were estimated using length-frequency data from the coast of Malacca, Peninsular Malaysia. Asymptotic length (L_∞) was 102.38 mm and growth coefficient (K) was estimated at 1.50 year^-1. Total mortality (Z) for P. viridis was 2.48 year^-1, while natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were 1.69 and 0.79 year^-1, respectively. The growth performance index was (φ′) 4.197 and the exponent "b" of the length-weight relationship was 2.602 (±0.02) during the study period. The asymptotic wet weight estimated from length-weight relationship was 40.81 g. Exploitation level (E) of P. viridis was 0.32 while the maximum allowable limit of exploitation (E_max) was 0.43. The recruitment pattern was continuous with one major peak in the months of July-August. The exploitation level (0.32) and lower fishing mortality (0.79 year^-1) indicate that the green mussel is under-exploited from Malacca coastal waters.