Growth, mortality and exploitation rate of Pseudupeneus prayensis from the coast of Ghana, West Africa

Samuel Amponsah

doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.1.20

Growth, mortality and exploitation rate of Pseudupeneus prayensis from the coast of Ghana, West Africa

Abstract

The West African goatfish (Pseudupeneus prayensis) is a commercially valuable demersal species in Ghana. However, its population in Ghana’s coastal waters has exhibited signs of fluctuations in recent years. Between July 2020 and June 2021, a total of 615 individuals were sampled from the coastal waters of Ghana and analysed using FISAT II software to determine the growth, mortality, and exploitation parameters. The mean length was 13.0 cm, with a maximum length of 22.7 cm. Growth was described by the von Bertalanffy Growth Function equation: L_t = 26.25[1–exp (−0.57(t+0.296))], showing a longevity of 5.3 years and a growth performance index (Φ′) of 2.594. The length at first capture (Lc₅₀) was 14.26 cm. Total mortality rate (Z), natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were 2.12 yr⁻¹, 1.25 yr⁻¹ and 0.87 yr⁻¹, respectively. The exploitation rate (E) was 0.41, below the optimum reference point of 0.5, while the maximum exploitation rate (Emax) was 0.80, implying that the stock does not appear to be currently overexploited. From the results, regular monitoring, strict enforcement of minimum legal landing sizes, and use of appropriate fishing gears are urgently recommended. In addition, strengthening artisanal fisheries management and promoting community-based compliance measures will be essential to ensuring sustainable management of the sampled species in the coast of Ghana.

Keywords

Artisanal fishing practices, Demersal fisheries, Population dynamics, Stock assessment models, Sustainable exploitation, Ghana

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Fisheries Development, Fisheries Technologies

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Samuel Amponsah ^*
0000-0001-5559-3139
Ghana

Early Pub Date

March 20, 2026

Publication Date

March 20, 2026

Submission Date

January 24, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 15, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.1.20

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA44UK48PC

APA

Amponsah, S. (2026). Growth, mortality and exploitation rate of Pseudupeneus prayensis from the coast of Ghana, West Africa. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, 10(1), 183-193. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.1.20

AMA

1.Amponsah S. Growth, mortality and exploitation rate of Pseudupeneus prayensis from the coast of Ghana, West Africa. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026;10(1):183-193. doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.1.20

Chicago

Amponsah, Samuel. 2026. “Growth, Mortality and Exploitation Rate of Pseudupeneus Prayensis from the Coast of Ghana, West Africa”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 10 (1): 183-93. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.1.20.

EndNote

Amponsah S (March 1, 2026) Growth, mortality and exploitation rate of Pseudupeneus prayensis from the coast of Ghana, West Africa. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 10 1 183–193.

IEEE

[1]S. Amponsah, “Growth, mortality and exploitation rate of Pseudupeneus prayensis from the coast of Ghana, West Africa”, int. j. agric. environ. food sci., vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 183–193, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.31015/jaefs.2026.1.20.

ISNAD

Amponsah, Samuel. “Growth, Mortality and Exploitation Rate of Pseudupeneus Prayensis from the Coast of Ghana, West Africa”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 10/1 (March 1, 2026): 183-193. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.1.20.

JAMA

1.Amponsah S. Growth, mortality and exploitation rate of Pseudupeneus prayensis from the coast of Ghana, West Africa. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026;10:183–193.

MLA

Amponsah, Samuel. “Growth, Mortality and Exploitation Rate of Pseudupeneus Prayensis from the Coast of Ghana, West Africa”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, vol. 10, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 183-9, doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.1.20.

Vancouver

1.Samuel Amponsah. Growth, mortality and exploitation rate of Pseudupeneus prayensis from the coast of Ghana, West Africa. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026 Mar. 1;10(1):183-9. doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.1.20

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Growth, mortality and exploitation rate of Pseudupeneus prayensis from the coast of Ghana, West Africa

Growth, mortality and exploitation rate of Pseudupeneus prayensis from the coast of Ghana, West Africa

Abstract

Keywords

References

Details

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Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Early Pub Date

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

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IZ

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