Revista Europea de Biología Experimental Acceso abierto

Abstracto

Length-weight relationship and Fultons condition factor of brackish river prawn (Macrobrachium macrobrachion, Herklots, 1851) from great Kwa river, Obufa Esuk beach, Cross river state, Nigeria

Andem Andem B, Idung Joseph U., Eni George E. and George Ubong U

Length-weight relationship (LWR) and Fulton’s condition factor of Macrobrachium macrobrachion Herklots, 1851, from Great Kwa River, Obufa Esuk Beach, Cross River State, Nigeria. Shrimp samples were collected for a period of six months from February, 2006 to July, 2006. The result shows that strong positive relationship exists between the shrimp length and weight. The b values were greater than 3, hence growth in the individual sex is allometric (b<3). The result of the Fulton’s condition factor (k), highest in male, female and berried female were 4.53, 5.59 and 8.00 respectively while the lowest in male, female and berried female were 0.15, 0.65 and 0.85 respectively. The implication of the estimated LWR parameters to the assessment of Macrobrachium macrobrachion stock in Great Kwa River, Obufa Esuk, revealed the suitability of the environment for this species, thus for sustainable management of this stock and also the environmental status should be maintained.