Length-weight relationships of three fish species from Kerala waters, south-west coast of India

Length-weight relationships (LWRs) of three fish species: Scomberomorus commerson, Alepes vari, and A.kleinii were estimated from Kerala waters, south-west coast of India. Fish were captured between June 2016 and June 2017 by various gears such as ring seine (8-26mm mesh size), trawl (30-40mm cod end mesh size), hook and line (hook number VI-XII), smaller mesh sized drift gill net (26-90mm) and larger one (120-170mm) for bigger size fishes. Fish were collected on weekly basis from Cochin Fisheries Harbour (Lat. 09 degrees 56327N, Long. 76 degrees 15764E), Munambam Fisheries Harbour (Lat. 10 degrees 10965N, Long. 76 degrees 10258E), Kalamukku (Lat. 09 degrees 59924N, Long. 76 degrees 14564E) and Chellanam (Lat. 09 degrees 47950N, Long. 76 degrees 16551E). All LWRs were significant with r(2) values ranged from 0.944 to 0.996 and b values ranged from 2.722 to 3.021 (p<.001). In addition, this study provides the information on LWRs and new maximum size for Alepes vari and A.kleinii.