Background. The Morocco dentex, Dentex maroccanus Valenciennes, 1830, is a sparid species, which has economical value and its population is expanding in a 20–500 m depth range throughout the Mediterranean. Worldwide, there is a lack of information about the biology (age, growth, reproductive season, first maturity length) of this species. This study provides the first data on population parameters of D. maroccanus in the Aegean Sea.  Materials and methods. Dentex maroccanus were caught in the Saros Bay (north Aegean Sea) between September 2006 and September 2008. The length–weight relations were determined according to the allometric equation: W = aLb. The spawning season was determined by analyzing the maturity stages and gonadosomatic index, while first maturity length was defined as the size at which 50% of individuals were mature. Growth parameters were estimated using the von Bertalanffy growth equation. Results. The female–male ratio was 4.8 : 1. The total length (weight) of females ranged from 11.4 cm to 25.2 cm (26.2 g to 289.3 g) and of males from 12.8 cm to 24.3 cm (19.8 g to 223.9 g). The growth parameters were calculated as L∞ = 25.31 cm, K = 0.49 year–1, t0 = –0.30 year. The length at first maturity for females and males was 13.0 cm and 15.8 cm, respectively. Monthly values of the gonadosomatic index indicated that spawning occurred mainly between June and September. Conclusion. Results reported in this work will contribute to the knowledge on the biology of D. maroccanus in the north Aegean Sea and also to a better understanding of its role in the marine ecosystem.

Morocco dentex, otolith, growth, maturity, North Aegean Sea