The pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata, represents the most abundant marine bivalve species in Qatari waters. The population parameters of this species were investigated and compared to those obtained previously from both the Mediterranean and Red seas. Four age groups with mean lengths of 56.75, 65.84, 77.54 and 84.66 mm were obtained for P. radiata from Qatari waters. The values of asymptotic length, Brody's growth coefficient and growth performance index were 132.18 mm, 0.34 y-1 and 1.77 respectively, while the total mortality coefficient equals 2.47 y-1. The morphometric relationship between the total weight and dorso-ventral measurement was determined to be W = 0.0002606 (DVM)2.90707.

The pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata, represents the most abundant marine bivalve species in Qatari waters. The population parameters of this species were investigated and compared to those obtained previously from both the Mediterranean and Red seas. Four age groups with mean lengths of 56.75, 65.84, 77.54 and 84.66 mm were obtained for P. radiata from Qatari waters. The values of asymptotic length, Brody's growth coefficient and growth performance index were 132.18 mm, 0.34 y-1 and 1.77 respectively, while the total mortality coefficient equals 2.47 y-1. The morphometric relationship between the total weight and dorso-ventral measurement was determined to be W = 0.0002606 (DVM)2.90707.