International Journal of Aquaculture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 275-286 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ija 275 Meta Analysis Open Access Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Economically and Ecologically Important Fish Species in Ilaje LGA, Ondo State, Nigeria Ojo O.B. 1 , Olawusi-Peters O.O. 2, Ajibare A.O. 3 1 Department of Agricultural Science and Technology, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, PMB 250 Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria 2 Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria 3 Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria Corresponding author: ojo.oluwasola@bouesti.edu.ng International Journal of Aquaculture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6 doi: 10.5376/ija.2025.15.0027 Received: 15 Sep., 2025 Accepted: 31 Oct., 2025 Published: 17 Nov., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Ojo et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Ojo O.B., Olawusi-Peters O.O., and Ajibare A.O., 2025, Length-weight relationship and condition factor of economically and ecologically important fish species in Ilaje LGA, Ondo State, Nigeria, International Journal of Aquaculture, 15(6): 275-286 (doi: 10.5376/ija.2025.15.0027) Abstract Length–weight relationship (LWR) and condition factor (K) are critical parameters for evaluating fish growth patterns, stock status, and ecosystem health. This study examined Ethmalosa fimbriata and Chrysichthys macropogon from four coastal fishing villages; Ayetoro, Bijimi, Idiogba, and Asumogha in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria. A total of 320 specimens were collected between April and July using gillnets of varying mesh sizes. Standard length and body weight were measured, and LWR parameters were estimated using log-transformed regressions, while Fulton’s condition factor was applied to assess fish health and habitat suitability. Results showed that both species exhibited allometric growth, with growth exponent (b) values significantly deviating from the isometric standard of 3. The condition factor for E. fimbriata ranged from 0.92 at Bijimi to 1.56 at Idiogba, while C. macropogon varied from 0.74 at Asumogha to 1.70 at Ayetoro. Higher K values at Idiogba and Ayetoro indicate relatively favorable habitats, whereas lower values at Bijimi and Asumogha suggest environmental stress and reduced food availability. Correlation analysis revealed a positive but site-dependent relationship between length and weight, with stronger associations in stations of higher habitat quality. These findings underscore the influence of habitat variability on fish condition and highlight the need for continuous ecological monitoring. The study provides a baseline for sustainable fisheries management and conservation strategies in Nigeria’s coastal waters. Keywords Length–weight relationship; Condition factor; Allometric growth; Fisheries management; Coastal ecosystems; Nigeria 1 Introduction The length–weight relationship (LWR) and condition factor (K) are fundamental parameters in fisheries biology, providing insights into growth patterns, health status, and habitat suitability of fish populations. LWR describes how body weight varies with length, while K serves as an index of well-being and ecological fitness, reflecting the influence of food availability, environmental conditions, and anthropogenic pressures (Blackwell et al., 2020; Akinyemi et al., 2021). Together, these metrics are widely used in stock assessment, ecological monitoring, and fisheries management. Building on our previous research (Ojo et al., 2025), which examined the effect of heavy metal on Ethmalosa fimbriata and Chrysichthys macropogon in Ilaje LGA, this study extends the analysis by exploring the dimensions of Length-weight relationship and condition factor of the fish species in the study areas while earlier paper highlighted how pollution could impair the health of fish in the study area, the current work emphasizes their health status, providing a complementary perspective on their growth pattern considering the environmental changes. Variations in LWR and K are often attributed to environmental gradients, seasonal fluctuations, and biological factors such as age, sex, and reproductive cycles (Mazumder et al., 2016; Ibrahim et al., 2022). In addition, human activities including pollution, overfishing, and habitat alteration exert strong impacts on fish condition and growth, often serving as bioindicators of ecosystem stress (Nwani et al., 2020; Olanrewaju et al., 2023). Assessing these parameters is therefore crucial in understanding the ecological integrity of aquatic systems, particularly in regions where fisheries provide food and income security.
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