Length-weight relationship and biology of some common edible fish species at Chandipur, Bay of Bengal, Odisha

Abstract

Length-weight relationship (LWR), condition factor and biology of six edible fish species were estimated seasonally from July 2011 to March 2012 at Bay of Bengal, Chandipur-on-Sea. A total of 720 specimens were measured and gut contents were also identified during the study period. The result showed that ‘b’ and r2 values of LWR of Hilsa ilisha, Johnius carutta, Liza parsia, Mugil cephalus, Polydactylus paradisus and Sillago sihama as 0.115, 0.117, 0.09, 0.026, 0.228, 0.151, 0.106, 0.044, 0.263, 0.285, 0.069, 0.062 respectively and r = 0.97. The decreased K factor % was observed in monsoon only (2.68, 2.08, 1.32, 2.73, 1.49 and 1.48 respectively) indicating a strong association between length - weight and six specimen specified allometric growth pattern. Analysis of food items in different seasons showed that the diatoms were the major portion of food item in Hilsa hilsa, Mugil cephalus and Sillago sihama.