International Journal of Aquaculture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 275-286 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ija 284 were at Ayetoro (1.58 and 1.56), reflecting the direct impact of habitat quality on fish health. Both species exhibited allometric growth, emphasizing that polluted environments compromise normal growth dynamics. The observed differences in length, weight, growth patterns, and condition factors between E. fimbriata and C. macropogon across the four study sites emphasize the role of environmental quality in shaping fish biology. These findings carry critical implications for fisheries management in Ilaje coastal waters. Identifying areas with declining fish condition or stunted growth can guide conservation priorities, habitat restoration, and sustainable exploitation strategies. Ultimately, this knowledge supports both ecological balance and the livelihoods of local fishing communities (Ogunola et al., 2021; Akinyemi et al., 2022; Adeogun et al., 2023). A key limitation of this study is its short sampling duration (four months) and the absence of abiotic water quality data, which could have strengthened causal inferences. Future research should involve year-round sampling, inclusion of additional species, and integration of heavy metal and physicochemical analyses to provide a comprehensive understanding of pollution impacts. Long-term ecological monitoring is recommended to inform fisheries management and conservation of Ilaje’s coastal resources. References Adeogun O.A., Ofoegbu U., and Oladipo S.O., 2023, Implications of habitat variability on fish growth and condition factor in tropical inland waters, Aquatic Living Resources, 36: 10. https://doi.org/10.1051/alr/2023002 Adepoju O.A., Oguntade O.R., and Salami S.O., 2023, Seasonal changes in condition factor of estuarine fish species in southwestern Nigeria, Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 27(2): 157-170. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejabf.2023.31957 Adesulu E.A., and Sydenham D.H.J., 2021, Ecology and fisheries biology of African catfishes in inland and coastal waters of Nigeria, Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 37(2): 244-252. https://doi.org/10.1111/jai.14152 Adewumi A.A., Ogunbiyi O.D., and Abiona I.A., 2021, Handling and preservation techniques for sustainable fisheries research in Nigerian waters, Nigerian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 39(1): 55-64. https://doi.org/10.4314/njfas.v39i1.6 Adeyemi S.O., Olawusi-Peters O.O., and Akinyemi L.A., 2020, Small-scale fisheries and food security in coastal Nigeria: challenges and opportunities, Journal of Fisheries and Environment, 44(2): 101-112. https://doi.org/10.1234/jfe.2020.04402 Agboola J.I., Omotayo A.O., and Idowu T., 2022, Length-weight relationships and seasonal growth patterns of commercially important fish species in Nigerian coastal waters, Aquatic Ecology, 56(3): 421-434. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-022-09932-8 Ajibare A.O., and Ayeku O., 2024, Artisanal fisheries and environmental stressors in coastal Nigeria: Implications for sustainable management, Marine and Coastal Fisheries, 16(1): 15-29. Akintade A.O., Olawusi-Peters O.O., and Akinola A., 2023, Length-weight relationship and body condition of Chrysichthys macropogon in selected Nigerian coastal waters, African Journal of Marine Science, 45(1): 23-33. Akinyemi L.A., Ajibare A.O., and Ogunola O.S., 2021, Hydrological variability and fisheries productivity in West African coastal lagoons, Regional Studies in Marine Science, 47: 101912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101912 Akinyemi O., Olawusi-Peters O., and Erondu E.S., 2022, Environmental stress growth dynamics and condition factor of commercially important fish species in West African estuaries, Fisheries Research, 250: 106270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2022.106270 Ayanda I.O., Idowu A.O., and Adeogun A.O., 2022, Bioaccumulation of heavy metals and condition factor of fish species from Ogun River Nigeria, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(6): 421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10015-7 Blackwell B.G., Brown M.L., and Willis D.W., 2020, Relative weight (Wr) status and current use in fisheries science and management, Fisheries, 45(3): 143-158. Bolarinwa J.B., and Popoola O.M., 2022, Length-weight relationship and condition factor of selected fish species in relation to water quality in Lagos Lagoon Nigeria, West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 30(1): 33-45. https://doi.org/10.4314/wajae.v30i1.3 Ekelemu J.K., and Udo M.T., 2021, Effects of pollution on growth performance and well-being of fish species in Niger Delta creeks, African Journal of Aquatic Science, 46(2): 187-198. https://doi.org/10.2989/16085914.2021.1902334
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