Stock Status of the Moonfish (Citharinus citharus) for Management Strategies and Conservation in Oguta Lake, Imo State, Nigeria

The fisheries stock status of Citharinus citharus in Oguta Lake was investigated from September 2023 to April 2024. Assorted fishing gears were deployed to catch fish. The standard lengths in centimeters (cm) of 32,748 specimens of C. citharus were measured. The length data were analyzed with Electronic Length Frequency II (ELEFAN II) and fitted into the Von Bertalanffy Growth Model (VBGM). The VBGM was L(t) = 62.85[1 – e -0.165(t – 0.87)]. Total Mortality (Z) = 2.297yr-1, Fishing Mortality (F) = 1.86yr-1, Natural Mortality (M) = 0.45yr-1 and Exploitation rate (E) = 0807yr-1. Length at first sexual maturity (Lm) = 41.9cm. C. Citharus is experiencing overexploitation and overfishing in Oguta Lake. Conservation and Management strategies should include restrictions on the use of small mesh sizes that would reduce the catching of sexually immature individuals (of Length ≤ 41.9cm) and the closure of the fishing Season of C citharus from July to September annually.