Length-weight relationships and condition factor of the main species of fish caught on the Bandama River (Ivory Coast)

The Ivory Coast has economically and ecologically important rivers that contain various fish and shellfish resources. Thus, the present study aims to assess the length-weight relationships and the condition factor of fish stocks in selected sites on the Bandama River from July 2013 to June 2014. The growth pattern of each species was identified at the using a regression model calculated for the length-weight relationship. The condition factor (K) was analyzed for each species. There were six species of fish (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Synodontis bastiani, Synodontis schall, Marcusenius senegalensis, Coptodon zillii and Labeo coubie). The length-weight relationship determined for the above six species showed a negative allometric growth pattern (b<3) indicating faster length increase relative to weight for five of them. They are Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Coptodon zillii, Synodontis bastiani, Synodontis schall and Marcusenius senegalensis, Only the species Labeo coubie presented a positive allometric growth (b>3) showing that this species put on weight faster than it grows. The habitat qualities of the majority of fish species were therefore in optimal environmental conditions. The results of the present study constitute a reference, which taken into account would be useful for the implementation of a plan for the sustainable management of fishery resources in Ivory Coast.