Length–Weight and Length–Length Relationships of 12 Fish Species Caught as Bycatch in the Artisanal Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Fishery in the Biosphere Reserve Marismas Nacionales, Nayarit, Mexico

Abstract

Length–weight relationship (LWR) and its parameters can be used for the development of models for the rational exploitation of fishery resources. In this study, we estimated the parameters of the LWRs and length–length relationships (LLRs) of 12 fish species caught incidentally by the artisanal whiteleg shrimp fishery in the Biosphere Reserve Marismas Nacionales (BRMN), Nayarit, Mexico. Fishes were sampled during the 2022–2024 fishing seasons (September–March) using cast nets of different mesh sizes recording total length (TL), standard length (SL), and total weight (W) for each. All LWRs and LLRs were significant (p < 0.05) with high coefficient of determination (R² > 0.89) and b-values of LWRs ranging from 2.59 (Diapterus brevirostris) to 3.14 (Elops affinis). These findings will serve as a basis for understanding the status of fish species in BRMN, an area impacted by human activity (e.g., artisanal fishing and aquaculture).