Age, growth and exploitation parameters of chelon dumerili (steindachner, 1870) from saloum estuary, Senegal

This study estimated the growth, mortality and exploitation parameters of Chelon dumerili. The aim of this study was to estimate the growth parameters and determine the mortality and exploitation coefficients. The C. dumerili specimens used for this study were caught in the Sangomar Marine Protected Area during experimental fishing carried out monthly from June 2016 to May 2017. The weight and length of the individuals were measured respectively using an electronic scale and an ichthyometer. The results obtained show that the allometric coefficient (b = 3) was equal to 3, indicating an isometric growth for C. dumerili. The asymptotic length (L∞) and the growth rate (K), were respectively equal to 37 cm and 0.33 yr-1. This study also showed that for C. dumerili, fishing mortality (3.49 year-1) is much higher than natural mortality (M = 1.22 year-1). The exploitation rate (E = 0.51) obtained in this study is higher than the optimum reference rate (E = 0.5); this indicates the beginning of overexploitation of the C. dumerili stock in the waters of the Saloum Delta.