Length-weight Relationship, Condition Factor and Length Frequency Distribution of the Tongue Sole Cynoglossus senegalensis from Akpa Yafe River, Bakassi, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The length-weight parameters, condition factor and length frequency distribution of the tongue sole, Cynoglossus senegalensis (Kaup, 1858) from Akpa Yafe River, Nigeria, were estimated. A total of 292 freshly caught samples were collected between November 2014 and October 2015 from the catches of the artisanal fisheries at Ikang beach, Bakassi L.G.A., Cross River State. Results showed a negative allometric growth indicating that the fish gets slimmer as it grows larger. A significant linear relationship is given by the equation: W =.0.0413TL2.3861 and Log W = 2.3861TL - 1.3841(r2 = 0.7700, P < 0.05, n = 292, d.f. = 290). Mean monthly condition factor of C. senegalensis was highest (0.419 ± 0.01) in May and lowest (0.277 ± 0.02) in November. The length frequency distribution showed that the highest length frequency was in length class 57.1- 60.0 cm (47) and the lowest (1) in 33.1- 36.0 cm, 36.1- 39.0 cm, 39.1 – 42.0 cm, 81.1 – 84.0cm, and 87.1 – 90.0 cm length class. These important findings would be useful for fishery biologists and fishery managers in evaluating the population dynamics, stock assessment and sustainable management of C. senegalensis from Akpa Yafe river and other similar water bodies.