Stock assessment indicators of Pagrus caeruloestictus, Pagellus bellotti, Dentex angolensis and Dentex congoensis from Ghana’s coastal waters were estimated between July 2018 and June 2019. Total length measurements of 2489 samples were collected from some selected coastal communities along the Greater Accra region of Ghana and analyzed using FISAT II Tool. The asymptotic length (L∞) for P. caeruleostictus, P. bellottii, D. angolensis and D. congoensis was 39.9 cm, 31.5 cm, 31.5 cm and 28.4 cm, respectively. The growth rate (K) was 0.18 yr-1 for P. caeruleostictus, 0.36 yr-1 for P. bellottii, 0.75 yr-1 for D. angolensis and 0.83 yr-1 for D. congoensis. The current exploitation rate (E) for P. caeruloestictus, P. bellotti, D. angolensis and D. congoensis was above the optimum level of 0.5, indicating that these species are facing high fishing pressure. To ensure sustainable management of the overexploited fish species, the need for relevant management measures such extension of the closed fishing season, reduced fishing effort and others are urgently required.

Growth, mortality and exploitation rate of Selene dorsalis (Gill, 1863) from the continental shelf of Ghana (West Africa) were examined between July 2018 and June 2019. The study provided results on fishery dynamics parameters needed to estimate the stock status and characteristics of S. dorsalis in the coast of Ghana. Monthly length-frequency data were collected from 629 samples and analysed using fisheries models fitted in TropFishR package in R software. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were utilised to analyse the population dynamics of the species using ELEFAN Simulating Annealing. Based on the estimates, the asymptotic total length (L∞) was 22.2 cm, the coefficient of growth (K) was 0.76 year-1, and the calculated growth performance index (phi) was 2.58 with Rn value of 0.55. The total mortality rate (Z) was 3.32 year-1 with a natural mortality rate (M) of 1.21 year-1 and fishing mortality rate (F) of 2.11 year-1. The exploitation rate (E) estimated for the species was above the optimum level of 0.5, which indicates that S. dorsalis is overexploited in the coast of Ghana. It can be concluded that the exploitation rate of S. dorsalis has exceeded the optimum limit, hence the need for enforcement and improvement of fisheries management measures such as mesh size regulations, capping of canoes, closed fishing seasons and compliance with fisheries policies.

Length-weight relationships are very useful for fisheries research because they: (a) allow growth-in-weight equations for use in stock assessment models; (b) help estimate biomass by means of length observations; (c) enable us to obtain an estimate of the condition of the fish; and (d) are useful for interregional comparisons of life histories in certain species, provided all investigators employ a fully comparable (standardized) sampling methodology (Kara et al., 2018).The LWR equation parameters a and b are important in stock assessment studies when obtained together with a number of population relevant data such as sex, ratio, age at first maturity and fecundity data (Simon & Mazlan, 2008). The present contribution aims to provide new LWRs which includes a wider size range or a larger TLmax compared to existing studies. | MATERIAL S AND ME THODSThis study was conducted at five locations, Tema, Nungua, Sakumono, Prampram and Kpone in the Greater Accra region, Ghana.Inhabitants of these coastal community are mostly engaged in fishing and its related activities. Table 1 shows the geographic coordinates