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 b of 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.