Health status of sciaenid species following mass fish kills in coastal waters of Niger Delta, Nigeria

The length-weight relationship, condition factor, and hepatosomatic index of three of the most abundant and commercially valuable croaker (Sciaenidae) species in the coastal waters of Nigeria were examined following mass fish kills. A total of 489 individuals of Pseudotolithus were sampled, and Pseudotolithus elongatus formed the bulk of the catch, comprising 67.55% by numbers, followed by P. typus and P. senegalensis, which represented 23.15% and 22.56%, respectively. LWRs were estimated to be BW = 0.0133TL^2.38 for P. typus, BW = 0.0537TL^2.86 for P. senegalensis, and BW = 0.00391TL^3.00 for P. elongatus. The condition factors recorded ranged from 0.64±0.04 to 1.93±0.03 for P. typus, 0.74±0.04 to 1.85±0.05 for P. senegalensis, and 0.73±0.03 to1.61±0.01 for P. elongtatus. The HSI values for P. typus ranged from 0.64±0.04 to 1.93±0.03, 0.74±0.04 to 1.85±0.05 for P. senegalensis, and 0.73±0.03 to 1.61±0.01 for P. elongtatus. In conclusion, the results of this study would be very useful to execute specific management for the Sciaenid fishery in other coastal waters in Nigeria to achieve its sustainability.