Length-Weight Relationships and Relative Condition Factor of 53 Species of Shallow-Water Fish in the Colombian Caribbean Sea

Abstract

Length-weight relationships (LWR) were described for 53 species of shallow-water fish caught with bottom trawls in a depth range between 7.3 and 108.1 m during September 2013 in the Colombian Caribbean Sea (fishing area 31 of the FAO). A linear regression was performed using the logarithmically transformed data to calculate a and b coefficients and their 95% confidence interval of the LWR for 53 fish species corresponding to 28 families and 44 genera. Six fish species showed a maximum total length greater than that reported in FishBase: Astrapogon alutus (102.00 mm), Eucinostomus harengulus (162.00 mm), Haemulopsis corvinaeformis (293.00 mm), Cyclopsetta chittendeni (390.00 mm), Etropus crossotus (224.00 mm), and Bairdiella ronchus (415.00 mm). A total of 24 species (45.3%) exhibited isometric growth, 21 species (39.6%) negative allometric, and 8 species (15.1%) positive allometric. This study shows the first estimates of LWR for 25 species of shallow-water fish in the Colombian Caribbean Sea. We found interdependence of growth parameters as a function of fish body shape. The analysis of the relative condition factor indicated that 21 fish species (39.6%) showed poor growth conditions. The results obtained from this study contribute to fill information gaps on shallow-water fish populations and also help fisheries scientists in future population assessment studies in the Colombian Caribbean Sea.