Population Parameters of Two Commercially Important Species belonging to the Family Sciaenidae Encountered in the Coast of Ghana

Abstract

Population parameters for two commercially important fishes of Sciaenidae from the coastal waters of Ghana were assessed using length-frequency data obtained from August 2017 to June 2019. Samples of the assessed fish species were obtained through experimental fish trawl along the coast of Greater Accra, Ghana. Trawling was performed every quarter for an average of one hour at an average speed of 3.0 km/hr. In all, a total of 399 samples were measured and the obtained data were analyzed with FiSAT II. The assessed fish species included Pteroscion peli (165 samples) and Pseudotolithus senegalensis (234 samples). The asymptotic length (L∞) was 19.4 cm and 41.5 cm forPteroscion peli and Pseudotolithus senegalensis. Pteroscion peli and Pseudotolithus senegalensis recorded growth rate (K) of 0.48 and 0.50 per year respectively. Both assessed fish species exhibited continuous recruitment pattern with minor and major recruitment peaks. The total mortality rate (Z) was 1.86 and 1.63 per year for Pteroscion peli and Pseudotolithus senegalensis. The fishing mortality rate (F) was estimated at 0.66 and 0.63 per year for Pteroscion peli and Pseudotolithus senegalensis. The natural mortality rate (M) estimated for Pteroscion peli and Pseudotolithus senegalensis was 1.20 and 1.00 per year respectively. The exploitation rate (E) of Pseudotolithus senegalensis (0.39) and Pteroscion peli (0.36) respectively was far below the maximum exploitation rate (Emax), indicating under-exploitation of its fishery in the coastal waters of Ghana, hence the need to enhance the exploitation of these species.