Cybium, Revue Internationale d’Ichtyologie
Copyright © 2003 Société Française d’Ichtyologie

(1) IRD Bel Air, BP 1386, Dakar, SÉNÉGAL.

Résumé. - La gestion des pêches artisanales nécessite souvent l’usage de relations biométriques pour transformer des données collectées sur le terrain en indicateurs utilisables pour cette gestion. L’une des relations les plus communes est celle qui relie la longueur d’un poisson à un poids estimé. À partir d’informations collectées lors de programmes d’étude des peuplements ichtyens des estuaires et lagunes ouest-africaines, le document proposé fournit des clefs longueur-poids pour 52 espèces de poissons vivant dans ces écosystèmes estuariens et lagunaires.

Abstract. - Length-weight relationship of 52 fish species from West African estuaries and lagoons.

The management of small scale fisheries often requires the use of biometric relationships in order to transform data collected in the field into suitable indicators. One of the most common relationships connects the length of fish to the estimated weight. The establishment of these length-weight keys is carried out by means of specific programs including simultaneous collection of both parameters. This paper presents the length-weight relationship parameters for 52 fish species, belonging to 27 families living in West African estuaries and coastal lagoons. Many of these keys, about half of it, did not exist for the species and/or the geographical area dealt with. The coefficient of allometry (b) ranged from 2.46 to 3.47. The length-weight relationships of most of the species were compared in two different types of aquatic environments of the studied area: the Ebrié lagoon in Ivory Coast and the Sine Saloum estuary in Senegal.

Key words. - West Africa - Estuaries - Lagoons - Length-weight key.