Length-weight Relationship of Five Demersal Fish Species in Guinea Bissau (CE Atlantic)

Length-weight relationships (LWR) were determined for Brotula barbata, Dentex angolensis, Dentex macrophthalmus, Neomerinthe folgori and Scorpaena stephanica using individual fish records collected between July 2002 and January 2003, during a pilot project of experimental fishing over the shelf off Guinea Bissau. Fishes were caught by commercial vessels using bottom longline, measured defrost for the total length (to the lower 0.1 cm) and weighted for the total weight (TW, to the 0.1 g), and sexed. Two new maximum total lengths were registered for Scorpaena stephanica and Neomerinthe folgori, whose LWR b-values corresponded to the limits of the range obtained, between 2.833 and 3.318, respectively. All LWRs were obtained from well-adjusted linear regressions with r2 >= 0.90. Data presented herein expand the knowledge base for these species in West Africa, as they have limited or no LWR data available.