Liza carinata is considered as a common and economically important Mugilidae
fish of the Red Sea. Knowledge of the gonadal cycle in fishes has a great importance
in the successful management of fisheries. The present study was undertaken to gain
more information about the morphological, histological and ultrastructural aspects of
the ovaries of L. carinata during the different seasons of its reproductive cycle in the
Suez Bay.
The maturity stages of the ovaries of L. carinata can be classified into four
stages, namely: the early post-spawning, late post-spawning, pre-spawning and
spawning stages. Besides, L. carinata spawns from late September to late December.
Moreover, the oogenesis of L. carinata is divided into seven stages. These stages are
the oogonia, chromatin-nucleolar, early peri-nucleolar, late peri-nucleolar, vacuolated,
early yolk globular and late yolk globular stages. In addition, the ovaries also contain
the post-ovulatory structures and atretic follicles. The former are formed of the
hypertrophied follicular cells after the discharge of the mature ovum, while the latter
are formed as a result of the sudden cease growth of the oocytes. The present
observations may help in understanding the strategy of reproduction of L. carinata in
the Suez Bay that may help in its aquaculture.