Growth, Mortality and Exploitation Rate of Pagellus bellottii Harvested from the Marine Territorial Waters of Sierra Leone

The study investigated growth, mortality and exploitation rate of Pagellus bellottii collected off Sierra Leone, aimed to support efficient management its stock. A total 8, 216 specimens were at random from January-November, 2016 on-board a demersal trawler. Data analysis employed methods implemented in the computerized FiSAT II software using pooled length-frequencies constant class size. Growth parameters gave asymptotic length (L∞ = 33.63cm), growth (K 0.63yr-1), performance index (ɸ 2.85), theoretical age (to -0.6years) life-span (tmax 5.50years) whereas (Lm50) (tm50) first maturity estimated as 22.40 cm 2.30years respectively. Besides, current fishing (F 6.58yr-1) exceeded optimum (Fopt 0.50yr-1), limiting (Flimit 0.81yr-1) natural (M 1.22yr-1) rates, (Ecurrent) was 0.84yr-1. Results depicted low life expectancy, fast late (Lm50 33.4%, but < L∞) bellottii. Also, stock P. overexploited (Ecurrent > 0.5), buttressed by alarming beyond optimal permissible limits. This very worrisome should be reduced 0.5yr-1 (40.5%) (92.4%) order achieve least level 0.5) (Fcurrent Fopt) respectively, through institution closed seasons reduction fleets targeting species.Keywords: Exploitation; growth; life-span; mortality;