Population Dynamics and Stock Assessment of Atlantic Flyingfish (Cheilopogon melanurus) in the Coastal Waters of Liberia

Abstract

Length-based population dynamics and stock assessment of Atlantic flyingfish (Cheilopogon melanurus) was conducted on the coast of West Point, Liberia. Growth parameters, mortalities, yield-per-recruit (YPR), spawning biomass-per-recruit (SBPR) and maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of C. melanurus were estimated. Asymptotic length (L∞) was estimated as 33.60 cm, and growth coefficient (K) was 0.64 yr-1. The total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M), and Fishing mortality (F) were computed as 1.44 yr-1, 0.80 yr-1, and 0.64 yr-1, respectively. The growth performance index (ǿ) was 2.86 and the exploitation rate (E) was 0.44. The length at first capture (LC50) and length at first maturity (Lm) were 20.38 and 19.6 cm, respectively. The management reference points, Fmax and F0.1 were 3.8 yr-1 and 1.86 yr-1, respectively. The average annual landing and maximum sustainable yield (MSY) were 791.02 tons and 1,386 tons, respectively. Current exploitation level (E = 0.44) was 12% lower than optimum level of exploitation (E = 0.50). Existing fishing mortality (0.64 yr-1) was 65% lower than F0.1 (1.86 yr-1). The average landing (791.02 tons) was also 42.9% lower than the estimated MSY (1,386 tons) although the fishing effort was high. Overall, it could be concluded that the Atlantic flyingfish was under-exploited condition in the coast of West Point, Liberia during the study period. Therefore, fishing technique and modern fishing gears should be developed to get sustainable yield of Atlantic flyingfish in the Liberian waters.