Growth parameters of the clupeids Limnothrissa miodon and Stolothrissa tanganicae in northern Lake Tanganyika (Bujumbura sub-basin)

The analysis of growth parameters in fish stocks, such as the asymptotic length (L∞) and the curvature parameter (K) is crucial for the estimation of production rates and total mortality rates in fisheries management. Here, we estimated the growth parameters of the clupeids Limnothrissa miodon and Stolothrissa tanganicae in the northern part of Lake Tanganyika (Bujumbura sub-basin). Both species are important targets of pelagic fisheries, but the available estimates are based on scarce size frequency data, and rarely on size as a function of age data. We provide new estimates of L∞ and K based on size as a function of age data, with age inferred from otolith weight. Furthermore, we reanalyze several length frequency datasets using more sophisticated statistical procedures, and test if growth parameters estimated by length frequency analysis are consistent with those obtained based on size as a function of age. We found that length frequency analysis consistently underestimates L∞ and overestimates K as compared to length-at-age data. We recommend that length-at-age data should be obtained at a much broader spatial and temporal scale than currently available to advance our understanding of the growth dynamics of the two sardine species. This will improve the assessment of stock productivity and biomass of Lake Tanganyika’s pelagic fisheries, as well as the level of fishing pressure that can be sustained. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.