Resumen de Length-weight Relationships and Condition Factor of Five Marine Finfish Species from Parangipettai (Tamil Nadu) and Mumbai (Maharashtra) Coast of India

G. Mahadevan, Sachin M. Gosavi, P. Murugesan

• The present study reports length-weight relationships (LWRs) and Fulton’s condition factor (K) of five marine finfish species [(Siganus vermiculatus (Valenciennes, 1835), Kathala axillaris (Cuvier, 1830), Exocoetus volitans, Linnaeus, 1758, Chaetodon collare Bloch, 1787 and Boleophthalmus dussumieri Valenciennes, 1837)] from Parangipettai (East coast, Tamil Nadu) and Mumbai (West coast, Maharashtra) of India. A total of 1451 specimens representing five fin fish species were collected monthly from January 2018 to December 2018 and the sex ratio were calculated. Based on the estimates of total length (TL) and body weight (BW), the growth parameters (b), sex-specific differences in growth parameter and their monthly variation were calculated. The sex ratio was female-biased and significantly different from 1:1 in all species except E. volitans. The value of parameter ‘b’ of LWRs varied from 2.734 to 3.201 (r2 > 0.96 and P < 0.0001 for all species) and fall within the expected value of 2.5 to 3.5. The value of parameter ‘b’ for E. volitans and B. dussumieri did not fall within the 95% confidence intervals of Bayesian predictions. However for S. vermiculatus, C. collare, and K. axillaris the value of parameter ‘b’ was within the range of Bayesian predictions. Monthly variation in the value of parameter ‘b’ of the LWRs for all species was noticeable. The sample size had no effect on the ‘b’ value. Sex-specific variation in ‘b’ value was only observed for C. collare. The condition factor value ranged from 0.52 to 2.25 and was highest in K. axillaris and lowest in C. collare. Owing to the importance of LWRs and K data to understand the relative condition of populations, species ecology, demographic assessment, and species management, the present study has a great significance in fishery biology.