Length-weight relationships of five fish species in Epe lagoon, Nigeria

Abstract

  Length-weight relationship (LWR) of 320 fish populations covering 3 families, 4 genera and 5 species inhabiting Epe Lagoon, were studied. The fishes (Clarias gariepinus (Burch), Illisha africana Bloch), Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus(Lacepede), Chrysichthys walkeri (Gunther) and Ethmalosa fimbriata(Bowdich)) were obtained from fish landing site at Epe market from November 2001 to October 2002, and January to December 2003.  The parameters a and bof the length-weight relationship of the form W=aLb and condition factor (c.f.)=W100/L3 are presented for the five fish species. The c.f. values significantly (P<0.001) range between 0.64 and 1.99, while the b values varied between 2.790 and 3.210 with the mean b = 3.0072 at P<0.001.  This indicates a nearly isometric relationship with 60% of the variation in body weight being accounted for by changes in length.   Key words: Length-weight, fish species, Epe Lagoon, condition factor.