The African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, is one of the most commercially important fish species in Lake Abaya, South Ethiopia Regional State. Maintaining the fisheries and benefiting the fishing communities requires effective management. However, little information is known about the growth and stock status of C. gariepinus in Lake Abaya. This study was aimed at determining the length-weight relationship, Fulton’s condition factor, sex ratio, growth, and stock status of C. gariepinus in Lake Abaya. The length-weight and sex data were collected from a total of 1846 fish samples from September 2022 to August 2023 from the commercial fishery of Lake Abaya. The collected data were summarized using descriptive statistics and analyzed with Microsoft Excel, SPSS, and FiSAT II. The length-weight was computed using the power function and obtained as TW = 0.0025×TL3.27; R2 = 0.9404; TW = 0.0018×TL3.34; R2 = 0.9278; and TW = 0.0021×TL3.30; R2 = 0.9358; for females, males, and combined sexes, respectively. The mean Fulton’s condition factor was 0.77±0.042, 0.75±0.030, and 0.76±0.029 for females, males, and combined sexes, respectively, and did not significantly differ between sexes or months’ interactions (P > 0.05). The overall sex ratio was found to be 1:1, and there was no significant difference between sexes and months; interactions (χ2 = 0.00; P > 0.05). The von Bertalanff growth parameters were estimated as L∞ = 127.05 cm, K = 0.21yr-1, to = -0.54, Φ′ = 3.53, and W∞ = 18.55 kg. The mortality-related parameters were estimated as Z = 1.14 yr-1, M = 0.20 yr-1, F = 0.94 yr-1, E = 0.82, Emax = 0.61, Z/K = 5.43, M/K = 0.95, Lc/ L∞ = 0.44, Lc = 56 cm, and L50 = 65 cm. This study found about 48.3% of the fish was caught before they reached the length at first maturity and facing growth overfishing. The overall result revealed that the C. gariepinus in Lake Abaya was overexploited and the well-being of the fish was not in a suitable condition. We recommended that fisheries management should include restriction of the fish caught lower than L50 as well as reduction of fishing gear to ensure the sustainability of this commercially important fish species in Lake Abaya.

Condition factor, Growth parameter, Growth pattern, Length-weight relationship, Mortality parameter, Sex ratio, Stock status parameters

Based on the findings, the sex ratio was found to be 1:l and the length-weight relationship of C. gariepinus was undergoing a curvilinear and positive allometric growth pattern. C. gariepinus in Lake Abaya was not in a suitable condition, as the mean condition factor was recorded to be less than one (K< 1). The predicted growth parameters; the asymptotic length (L∞) and the growth constant (K) were obtained to be 127.05 cm and 0.21 yr-1, respectively. The asymptotic weight (W∞) when C. gariepinus attains its asymptotic length was estimated at 18.55 kg while, the longevity was estimated at 14.81 years. The C. gariepinus in Lake Abaya was overexploited as 31.1% of the fish was removed before it reached its Lc, and about 48.3% was caught before its length at first maturity. The current exploitation rate (Ecurrent) and the exploitation rate that results a maximum yield (Emax)were estimated at 0.82, and 0.61, respectively. Generally, the evidence in this study revealed that 79.4% of C. gariepinus in Lake Abaya was under heavy fishing pressure with growth overfishing. The fish was not also in good condition and we recommended that the fisheries management of the lake should include restriction of fish caught lower than the length at first maturity as well as reduction of fishing gear to ensure the sustainability of this commercially important fish species.

Buchale Shishitu and Atnafu W/yohans (2025). Assessing Growth and Stock Status Parameters of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822) from Lake Abaya, South Ethiopia. International Journal on Emerging Technologies, 16(1): 30–40.