Spawning Period and Size at Maturity of the Thornback Ray, Raja clavata (Linnaeus, 1758), (Elasmobranchii: Rajidae) in the Black Sea

To describe the spawning period, size at maturity (Lm), reproductive load (Lm/Lmax), length at maximum yield per recruit (Lopt) of thornback ray (Raja clavata); and to assess the differences in these parameters from other populations, a total of 18 months samplings were conducted between February 2011 and December 2013 in the southeast Black Sea. A total of 265 (160 females and 105 males) specimens of thornback ray were examined. The mean total length (L) of females was significantly greater than the mean total length of males (p