Journal of Research in Biology

ISSN No: Print: 2231 6280; Online: 2231- 6299

An International Scientific Research Journal

Original Research

Journal of Research in Biology

Length-Weight Relationships
of 22 commercial fish from Margarita Island, Venezuela.
Authors:
Tagliafico A1,
Rago N2 and
Rangel MS1.

Institution:
1 Escuela de Ciencias
Aplicadas del Mar,
Universidad de Oriente,
Boca de Ro, Isla de
Margarita, Venezuela.
2 Oceanografa y pesca,
Fundacin de Ciencias
Naturales La Salle, Isla de
Margarita, Venezuela.

ABSTRACT:
Length-Weight Rela onships (LWR) were calculated for 22 commercial sh
species caught by the ar sanal shing eet of Margarita Island, Venezuela. A total of
1,610 specimens were analysed, distributed in the following species: Lagocephalus
laevigatus, Sphyraena guachancho, S. barracuda, Lutjanus purpureus, L. analis,
L. griseus, Rhomboplites aurorubens, Lachnolaimus maximus, Priacanthus arenatus,
Scomberomorus cavalla, S. brasiliensis, Euthynnus alle eratus, Auxis thazard, Sarda
sarda, Thunnus atlan!cus, Rachycentron canadum, Caranx hippos, C. crysos, Selene
setapinnis, Alec!s ciliaris, Trachinotus carolinus and Elops saurus. These length-weight
rela onships can be used to improve sh sta s cs because of diculty in obtaining
weight of the sh in eld.
Keywords:
Lutjanidae, Scombridae, Carangidae, Elopidae, Sphyraenidae, Rachycentridae

Corresponding author:
Tagliafico A.

Ar cle Cita on:

Tagliaco A, Rago N and Rangel MS.
Length-Weight Rela onships of 22 commercial sh from Margarita Island, Venezuela.
Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(3): 1707-1712

Web Address:

Dates:
Received: 21 Jan 2015

http://jresearchbiology.com/
documents/RA0509.pdf

Accepted: 08 Feb 2015

Published: 16 May 2015

This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/

licenses/by/4.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution and
reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Journal of Research in Biology
An International
Scientific Research Journal

1707-1712 | JRB | 2015 | Vol 5| No 3

www.jresearchbiology.com

Tagliafico et al., 2015

INTRODUCTION

(Cuvier,

1828),

L.

griseus

(Linnaeus,

1758),

Estimation of biomass and regulation of catches

L. purpureus (Poey, 1866), Rhomboplites aurorubens

are necessary for fishery management; but the direct

(Cuvier, 1829), Lachnolaimus maximus (Walbaum,

measurement of the weight of each fish can be time

1792),

consuming or impossible to obtain in field. For

Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus, 1766); whereas Fork

convenience, just size is often measured in body length,

Length (FL) was used for Scomberomorus cavalla

but the information about body weight is also taken into

(Cuvier, 1829), Scomberomorus brasiliensis (Collette

consideration.

Length-Weight

et al., 1978), Euthynnus alletteratus Rafinesque 1810,

Relationship (LWR) are useful tools and have been

Auxis thazard (Lacpede, 1800), Thunnus atlanticus

extensively used to estimate the weight from the length

(Lesson, 1831), Sarda sarda (Bloch, 1793), Caranx

of the organisms (Sinovi et al., 2004, Froese 2006,

hippos (Linnaeus, 1766), C. crysos (Mitchill, 1815),

Froese et al., 2014, Xiong et al., 2014). However, LWR

Selene setapinnis (Mitchill, 1815), Alectis ciliaris

studies were only available for less than 12% (3,587

(Bloch, 1787), Trachinotus carolinus (Linnaeus, 1766)

species) from around 32,470 species of fishes contained

and Elops saurus (Linnaeus, 1766).

For

this

reason,

Priacanthus arenatus (Cuvier,

1829)

and

in FishBase (Froese et al., 2014), and even smaller if we

The parameters a and b of LWR were estimated

only consider Caribbean or Venezuelan waters, where

using the potential equation W=aLb; were W is the total

the information on the LWRs is mostly limited to a few

weight expressed in grams, L the total or fork length

species (Tagliafico et al., 2014). In this study LWRs

according to the species expressed in centimetres, a is

were estimated for 22 commercial fish species of the

the intercept, and b is the slope (Beverton and Holt,

region.

1957, Froese, 2006). The model fit to the data was

measured by the coefficient of Pearson r-squared ( r2 )

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was carried out in Margarita Island,
Venezuela

test and 95% confidence level of the limits of a and b

were determined.

(105150"-1111'06"N/634640"-

6424'32"W), from January 2006 to December 2007.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Fish landed at three fishing ports (Juan Griego, La Pared

A total of 1, 610 organisms belonging to 9

and El Tirano) and two fishing markets (Los Cocos and

families and 22 species were analyzed (Fig. 1). Values of

Conejeros) were sampled weekly. Specimens were

a and b, and their associated statistical information are

caught using traps, beach seines: purse seine, single line,

provided in Table 1. The coefficients of correlation of

and gillnets and long-lines, latter being both surface and

the regressions ranged between 0.82 and 0.998, and all

bottom. Detailed descriptions of vessels and fishing

were highly significant (P<0.0001).

gears are provided by Iriarte (1997) and Gonzlez et al.,

The majority of the fish species studied show bvalues within the standard range (2.5-3.5) proposed by

(2006).
The specimens were identified using the keys of
Cervign (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996). Fish were weighed

Froese (2006); only for Priacanthus arenatus (b=2.281),

it was slightly lower than this range (Table 1).

to the nearest 0.1 g and measured to the nearest 0.1 cm.

In Venezuela, for the fish studied, LWRs have

Total length (TL) was used for Lagocephalus laevigatus

only been previously reported for Lutjanus analis,

(Linnaeus, 1766), Sphyraena guachancho (Cuvier,

L. griseus and Sphyraena guachancho. Similar b-values

1829), S. barracuda (Edwards, 1771), Lutjanus analis

to previous studies were found for Lutjanidae, but for

1708

Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(3): 1707-1712

Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(3): 1707-1712

Elopidae

Rachycentridae
Carangidae

Labridae
Priacanthidae
Scombridae

Lutjanidae

Sphyraenidae

Tetraodontidae

45.4-71.4
40.1- 131
17.6-86.6
14.4-40.3
22.5-57.9
22.7-83.1
20.1-58.9

104
56
30
61
52
44
14

Thunnus atlanticus*
Rachycentron canadum

Caranx hippos*

Selene setapinnis*

Caranx crysos*
Alectis ciliaris*

Trachinotus carolinus*

39.7-77.1

30.0-69.9

90

Sarda sarda*

34

31.5-48.0
20.2-79.0
20.8-54.0

11
81
30

S. brasiliensis*
Euthynnus alletteratus*
Auxis thazard*

Elops saurus*

27.1-188.7

57

Scomberomorus cavalla*

20.8-40.3

95

Rhomboplites aurorubens
17.5-39.2
22.4-37.5

20.4- 132

33

Lutjanus griseus
26
50

24.4-85

31

Lutjanus analis

Lachnolaimus maximus
Priacanthus arenatus

19.7-86.3

43

49.4-123.6

41

Sphyraena barracuda

Lutjanus purpureus

23.1-100.5

24.3-62.8

L(cm) range

251

376

Sphyraena guachancho

Lagocephalus laevigatus

Species

226.8-2891.6

190-3471.4

100.0-3100.0
280.0-8960.0

080.0-680.40

056.7-10404.2

2041.2-7285.8
170.1 - 19000

311.9-4167.4

150.0- 822.10
110.0-5790.0
080.0-2000.0

141.8- 16000

050.0-963.90
198.5-765.40

080.0-737.10

113.4- 28000

160.0- 8200.0

150.0- 9752.2

640.0- 12100

085.1-4252.4

198.5-3061.7

W (g) range

0.004

0.012

0.045
0.139

0.06

0.02

0.053
0.0004

0.022

0.003
0.012
0.003

0.005

0.002
0.172

0.034

0.022

0.005

0.026

0.002

0.015

0.039

0-0.091

0.007-0.021

0.019-0.106
0.075-0.259

0.021-0.175

0.009-0.042

0.028-0.102
0-0.002

0.009-0.057

0-0.097
0.008-0.019
0.001-0.009

0.001-0.027

0-0.014
0.062-0.481

0.015-0.076

0.011-0.042

0.002-0.011

0.014-0.050

0.001-0.006

0.011-0.020

0.025-0.059

95% CI a

3.092

3.189

2.731
2.479

2.566

2.979

2.765
3.654

2.86

3.264
3.046
3.487

3.046

3.708
2.281

2.699

2.921

3.265

2.82

3.182

2.704

2.737

2.316-3.869

3.052-3.326

2.483-2.978
2.316-2.642

2.228-2.905

2.786-3.172

2.603-2.927
3.331-3.977

2.610-3.109

2.292-4.235
2.924-3.167
3.142-3.832

2.648-3.444

3.048-4.368
1.977-2.584

2.459-2.939

2.743-3.099

3.032-3.498

2.643-2.998

2.960-3.404

2.626-2.783

2.621-2.854

95% CI b

0.82

0.998

0.953
0.978

0.892

0.986

0.957
0.951

0.925

0.93
0.984
0.969

0.9

0.921
0.909

0.918

0.986

0.983

0.981

0.978

0.974

0.922

r2

Table 1. Estimated lengthweight relationship parameters for 22 commercial fish species caught in an artisanal Caribbean Fishery *Fork length

Tagliafico et al., 2015

1709

Tagliafico et al., 2015

Figure 1. Fish species analysed: a) Lagocephalus laevigatus, b) Sphyraena guachancho, c) S. barracuda,

d) Lutjanus purpureus,
e) L. analis, f) L. griseus, g) Rhomboplites aurorubens, h) Lachnolaimus maximus,
i) Priacanthus arenatus, j) Scomberomorus cavalla, k) S. brasiliensis, l) Euthynnus alletteratus, m) Auxis thazard,
n) Sarda sarda, o) Thunnus atlanticus, p) Rachycentron canadum, q) Caranx hippos, r) Caranx crysos, s) Selene
setapinnis, t) Alectis ciliaris, u) Trachinotus carolinus and v) Elops saurus.
1710

Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(3): 1707-1712

Tagliafico et al., 2015

S. guachancho b-value was lower (n=251; b=2.704) than

Cervign F. 1991. Los peces marinos de Venezuela. I.

the previously registered in the area (n=45; b=3.271)

Fundacin Cientfica Los Roques. ISBN 9800713417,

(Etchevers, 1975). LWR in fish species could be affected

9789800713419. 185 p.

by many factors, such as gonad maturity, sex, health,

age, habitat, stomach full-ness, length ranges used,
preservation

methods,

season,

population,

and

Cervign F. 1993. Los peces marinos de Venezuela. II.

Fundacin Museo del Mar. Caracas. 497 p.

environmental conditions (Tesch 1968, Pauly 1984,

Cervign F. 1994. Los peces marinos de Venezuela. III.

Froese 2006).

Fundacin Museo del Mar. Caracas.

Our study contributes to the expansion of

knowledge on the Caribbean fish species. This area is
globally acclaimed as a hotspot of endangered

295 p.

Cervign F. 1996. Los peces marinos de Venezuela. IV.

Fundacin Museo del Mar. Caracas.

254 p.

species (Cheung et al., 2007). The IUCN Red List

Cheung WWL, Watson R, Morato T, Pitcher TJ,

catalogues the species Lutjanus analis and Lachnolaimus

Pauly D. 2007. Intrinsic vulnerability in the global fish

maximus as Vulnerable; other ten species are considered

catch. Mar Ecol Progr Series 333: 1-12

as Less Concern (Thunnus atlanticus, Scomberomorus

cavalla, S. brasiliensis, Euthynnus alletteratus, Auxis
thazard, Sarda sarda, Caranx hippos, C. crysos, Alectis
ciliaris and Elops saurus), whereas the other 10 species

Etchevers S. 1975. La relacin longitud-peso en siete

peces de inters comercial en el nororiente de Venezuela.
Bol Inst Oceanogr 14(2): 243-346

analysed in this work have not been categorized. In this

Froese R. 2006. Cube law, condition factor and weight

regard, Tagliafico et al., (2012) previously demonstrated

length

that high frequency of all Lutjanidae species and Selene

recommendations. J Appl Ichthyol 22(4): 241-253.

setapinnis, captured in Margarita Island, were inferior to

the maturity length. Considering the information
available in FishBase, this work provides the first data of
LWRs for 18 commercial species from Venezuela

relationships:

history,

meta-analysis

and

Froese R, Thorson JT, Reyes jr RB. 2014. A Bayesian

approach for estimating length-weight relationships in
fishes. J Appl Ichthyol 30(1): 78-85

(Froese and Pauly 2014) and represents an important

Froese R, Pauly D, editors. 2014. FishBase. World

baseline data for fisheries, making it useful for the

Wide

management and conservation of these species.

www.fishbase.org (accessed on 10 December 2014).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors thank all the fisherman and sellers
for the patience in the measurement of the specimens. To
Asdrbal Lrez and INIA for the logistic cooperation.

Web

electronic

publication.

Available

at:

Gonzlez LW, Eslava N, Guevara F. 2006 Catlogo de

la pesca artesanal del Estado Nueva Esparta, Venezuela.
Instituto de Investigaciones Cientficas, Universidad de
Oriente, Boca de Ro, Venezuela. ISBN 9802341703
9789802341702 222p

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pesca del estado Nueva Esparta. Fund. La Salle Cs. Nat.

exploited fish populations. Fish. Invest. Ser. II, Vol. 19.

Monografa No. 42, Caracas. ISBN 9802350214

533 p.

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