Sex Ratio, Spawning Cycle, and Size at Maturity of Bluespotted Seabream (Pagrus caeruleostictus, Valenciennes 1830) from the Coast of Ghana
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Abstract
The decline in commercially important fish stocks, particularly demersal species, is a growing concern in Ghana, where these fish contribute significantly to food security. Despite their critical role, a lack of comprehensive biological studies has hindered the development of effective sustainable management strategies. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating key reproductive aspects of Pagrus caeruleostictus, a commercially valuable demersal fish in Ghana. A total of 560 individuals were sampled from the coast of Greater Accra, and their sex ratio, spawning cycle, and length at first maturity were analyzed. The results revealed a skewed sex ratio of 1 male:0.67 female. The peak spawning period for females occurred in April, while males peaked in March. The major spawning seasons for females and males were identified as July-August and March-April, respectively. Notably, larger size classes were dominated by males, supporting the hypothesis of protogyny in P. caeruleostictus. The length at first maturity was 18.4 cm for females and 21.1 cm for males. These findings suggest that the current minimum legal harvesting length, as outlined in Ghana’s Fisheries Regulation, should be revised to reflect the reproductive biology of this species and ensure its long-term sustainability in Ghanaian waters.
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