Research Article
PopulationSizeStructureandLength–WeightRelationshipsof
SelectedPelagicFishesFromTheGambianWaters(WestAfrica)
MomodouSidibeh ,
1
BocarSabalyBald´ e ,
2
MomodouS.Jallow ,
1
andPatriceBrehmer
3,4
1
Fisheries Department, 6, Marina Parade, Banjul, Gambia
2
Institut S´en´egalais de Recherche Agricole, ISRA, Centre de Recherche Oc´eanographique de Dakar-Tiaroye, CRODT, BP 2241,
Centre PRH, Dakar, Senegal
3
IRD, CNRS, University of Brest, Ifremer, Lemar, BP 1386, Dakar, Senegal
4
Sub Regional Fisheries Commission, Commission Sous-R´egionale des Pˆeches, CSRP, SRFC, Secr´etariat Permanent, BP 25 485,
Fann, Dakar, Senegal
Correspondence should be addressed to Bocar Sabaly Bald´ e; bocarbalde2005@hotmail.com
Received 24 April 2024; Accepted 23 October 2024
Academic Editor: Pronob Das
Copyright © 2024 Momodou Sidibeh et al. Tis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.
Te population size structure and length–weight relationships (LWRs) are fundamental tools in fshery science, providing
valuable insights into the health, dynamics, and management of fsh populations and contributing to the sustainable use of aquatic
resources. Te data used in this study were estimates from the main small pelagic fshes exploited in the Gambia. Tey were
collected using surface and bottom gillnets between November 2020 and October 2021 during scientifc fshing operations. Te
main small pelagic fsh size composition showed a modal class of20cmfor Ethmalosa fmbriata,21cmfor Sardinella aurita,22cm
for Sardinella maderensis,and30cmfor Trachurustrecae. Te parameter b value of these fsh species ranged from1.6831to2.9461,
and the correlation coefcient ranged from 0.81 to 0.95. Statistical LWRs for all species were very signifcant. Information obtained
is essential in reviewing and establishing basic management measures for depleted shared pelagic stocks in the Gambian fsheries
and the sub-region. In the context of poor data fsheries, such results also encourage the Gambian government and in-
tergovernmental subregional organizations to support data collection in the long term.
Keywords: Carangidae; Clupeidae; fsheries management; growth; small pelagic; West Africa
1.Introduction
Population dynamics is essential for understanding eco-
system functioning and managing exploited populations
[1, 2]. Small pelagic fsh are widely known to have rapid and
large population fuctuations, making their management
particularly difcult [1]. Te Gambia’s coasts are recognized
for their rich fshery resources because of favorable hy-
drodynamic, climatic, and geomorphological factors. Small
pelagics represent signifcant biomass and are sources of
abundance [3]. Tey are also known to be sensitive to en-
vironmental change [3, 4]. As such, it is important to deepen
our understanding of their adaptations to environmental
changes, to estimate the impacts of these changes on eco-
systems, and to develop instruments (reliable and sustain-
able indicators) and models to predict the evolution of
ecosystems in various contexts.
Population size structure, length, and weight can in-
fuence responses to other physiological stressors [5–7]. Te
length–weight relationship (LWR) varies in time and space
depending on parental wealth (e.g., weight condition), food
availability (abundance and quality), environmental pa-
rameters (temperature and salinity), and evolutionary
stressors, for example, density and fshing pressure [8–11].
Wiley
Journal of Applied Ichthyology
Volume 2024, Article ID 5112123, 7 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5112123