International Journal of Aquaculture, 2018, Vol.8, No.3, 17-22
17
Research Report Open Access
Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of African Big Barb
Labeobarbus intermedius
(Rüppell, 1836) in Ethiopian Freshwater Bodies: A
Review
Agumassie Tesfahun , Mathewos Temesgen, L. Prabhadevi
Department of Biology, Ambo University, Ethiopia
Corresponding author Email
International Journal of Aquaculture, 2018, Vol.8, No.3 doi
Received: 30 Nov., 2017
Accepted: 04 Jan., 2018
Published: 19 Jan., 2018
Copyright © 2018
Tesfahun 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
:
Tesfahun A., Temesgen M., and Prabhadevi L., 2018, Length-weight relationship and condition factor of African big barb
Labeobarbus intermedius
(Rüppell,
1836) in Ethiopian freshwater bodies: a review, International Journal of Aquaculture, 8(3): 17-22 (doi
Abstract
The investigations on length-weight relationship and condition factor of the African big barb
Labeobarbus intermedius
(Rüppell, 1836) in Ethiopian water bodies have shown varied pattern including nearly isometric (b ≈ 3), negative (b < 3) and positive
(b > 3) allometric. The Fulton condition factor (K) of
L. intermedius
is high (1.73) in Lake Ziway, however, declined in most rivers
and lakes and also exhibits seasonal variation. Fish had a better body condition (2.73) during wet season in Angereb and Sanja Rivers.
There is variation in condition factor with respect to sex in which females had better body condition (1.88) in Lake Ziway. The
length-weight relationship and condition factor of
L. intermedius
is correlated with availability of food and water quality parameters
justifying the need for effective management of this fish stock for conservation and continued fishing.
Keywords
Fulton Condition Factor; Length-weight;
L. intermedius
1 Background
The African big barb
Labeobarbus intermedius
is a widely distributed fish species in Northern Kenya and in most
parts of Ethiopian drainage basin (Dadebo et al., 2013). It is widely distributed in the rift valley basin, Abay basin
and Baro-Akobo basin part of Ethiopia, of which Lake Tana harbors the largest number of big barb species
(Vijverberg et al., 2012; Awoke, 2015). It is one of the most commercially important fish species in the country
(LFDP4, 1997; Bjørklis, 2004; Desta et al., 2006). The total annual yield of
L. intermedius
from the total inland
water bodies is estimated to be about 365 tons per year (LFDP, 1997). However, recently
L. intermedius
catch
from rift valley lakes (Lake Hawassa and Lake Koka) declined and reported to be unsafe for human consumption
due to high mercury concentration (Mengesha, 2009). The decline of the fish species due to overfishing and
parasitic infection has result the less accessibility of the fish on the local markets (Desta et al., 2006; Mengesha,
2009; Dadebo et al., 2013).
Length-weight relationship (LWR) is one of the most important biological tools in fishery management. It is used
to estimate the average weight at which a fish can attain the given length (Lawson et al., 2013). Relationship
between the two also indicates the wellbeing of fishes (Hamid et al., 2015). The difference in LWR is based on
the inherited body shape and condition of individual fish. Condition factor shows the degree of wellbeing of fishes
in their habitat, which is expressed by coefficient of body condition. It is a measure of various biological and
ecological factors with regard to their feeding conditions (Nehemia et al., 2012). High values of condition factor
indicate better body condition. However it is affected by stress, sex, season, availability of food and the quality of
water where it grows (Ighwela et al., 2011).
The study of length-weight relationship and condition factor of freshwater fish species is a subject of continuous
research as it is a basis for the development of a successful management program on fish capture and culture
(Shalloof et al., 2009) in wild and controlled environments. In addition, the information is vital for management of
the fish taken from different habitat types, feeding habits and species interaction under culture systems. The
length-weight relationship and condition factor of
L. intermedius
have been reported from several water bodies
(Admasu and Dadebo, 1997; Tesfaye, 2006; Anteneh, 2007; Berie, 2007; Gebremedhin et al., 2012; Dadebo et al.,
