Growth, mortality and recruitment of Periopthalmus barbarus (Linneaus 1766 ) in New Calabar River, Nigeria

Abstract

A sample size of 1572 was collected in the study and estimates of the growth, mortality and recruitment of Periophthalmus barbarus over a twelve month period in New Calabar River Nigeria. Applying the Von Bertalanffy function gave the value of the growth coefficient (K) as 0.65yr–1 ,while length infinity (Loo) was 15.28cm by Shephard’s method.The Powell Wetheral’s plot gave Loo as 10.73cm, Z/K 0.569 and the function Y=6.84+(-0.637)*X. Length at age (to) was 0.16. The growth performance index (ǿ) was 2.181.From length converted catch curves total mortality (Z) was 2.03 yr–1 , natural mortality (M) 1.68 yr–1 and fishing mortality (F) 0.35 yr–1. Exploitation rate was 0.17 and Emax 0.421. Length at first capture from relative yield/recruit analysis (knife edge ) (Lc) was 0.76cm and Lc/ Loo was 0.050.