SEASONAL VARIATIONS IN LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP AND CONDITION FACTOR OF INDIAN OIL SARDINE SARDINELLA LONGICEPS (VALENCIENNES, 1847) FROM BALOCHISTAN COAST

The length-weight relationship and condition factor of Sardinella longiceps fish from Balochistan coast was studied for twelve months from August 2005 to July 2006. Fish samples were collected from fishermen who used cast nets and gill nets. The fish ranged from 13 - 22cm in total length (TL) and 40 - 90 g in weight. The parameters a and b of the length-weight relationships were analyzed using equation W = aLb and condition factor K =100W/L3 for the S. longiceps fish recorded in this study. The mean values of b in the length -weight relationship were 2.1795 while intercept a being -1.2853. The coefficient of determination (r2) in different size classes showed very high degree, indicating positive strong relationship. The condition factor showed higher values in small fish while lower in large fish.