December 2024
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The growth patterns, sex ratio, and condition factor of Oreochromis niloticus species from Choba, Ogbogoro, and Iwofe landing sites along the New Calabar River, Rivers State, Nigeria, were investigated. Fish samples were collected with the aid of fishermen using various fishing gears for a period of six months (June to November 2024). 283 Oreochromis niloticus species were examined, with the total length (TL) and weight (W) ranging from 9.81 to 14.37 cm and 22.58 to52.49 grams, respectively. The overall sex ratio recorded 46% male and 54% female out of a total sample of 248 fish. The length-weight relationships value for the b exponent ranged from 2.69 to 2.96, while the growth pattern exhibited a negative allometry across the sampled months and exhibited a very strong relationship (r 2 = 0.88-0.99). The condition factor values ranged from 0.9 to 3.04 and 1.3 to 2.91 for males and females, respectively. Thus, the current study offered valuable information on the Oreochromis niloticus species, which will be useful to scientists and fisheries conservationists who are interested in this type of fish sourced from the New Calabar River.