Reproductive Biology of Red Pandora (Pagellus bellottii Steindachner, 1882) from the Coast of Ghana and Implications for Management

Abstract

A total of 933 samples of Pagellus bellottii were obtained from the coast of Ghana between January and December 2019, from commercial catches to determine the sex ratio, maturity stages, spawning period, and length at first maturity. The male to female ratio was 1.39:1. July and May were the main spawning peaks for female individuals of the assessed fish species. Two spawning periods were observed with a minor spawning period from November to January and major spawning from March to September. Female individuals matured slightly earlier than male individuals at 20 cm and 20.8 cm respectively. The results of this study could help to revise the existing minimum capture size of Red Pandora in Ghana.