International Journal of Oceanography and Marine Ecological System2224-249xAsian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ijomes.2017.1.8 Genus Groupers Population Structure and Length-Weight Relationships off Kenyan South Coast Indian Ocean Marine Waters]]>OgongoB.O. MwachiroE.C. FulandaB.M. 1201761Groupers are apex predatory fishes playing important local economic roles and ecosystem functions worldwide. The Kenyan coast Indian Ocean waters have been a good landing centre for nearly 30% of the already identified 98 Epinephelus genus species groupers. However, of late, their natural populations have greatly decreased with the landed individuals mean length and weights showing drastic reductions. Most are therefore caught when either juveniles or sub adults. Information data is therefore needed to avert this alarming decline and initiate conservation measures for these prized premium fishes. This study elucidates the Epinephelus genus groupers population structures and length-weight relationship analyses for these highly sought fishes from Kenyan inshore marine waters. The study results indicated varying significant conditions (p<0.001) for these species having Length-Weight Relationship (LWR) regression coefficients (R2) that appeared to be stronger (R2>0.6000) for 23 species. Despite this apparently strong fit, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) revealed no significant differences between (a) intercept and (b) slopes of the species regression lines (p = 0.5552). R2 analyses also showed consistent non isometric patterns in the plotted power curved data suggesting that unless stringent management measures are implemented to restrict over-exploitation, it is likely that the species currently categorized as Near Threatened under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red list would soon become Endangered while those Endangered extinct. This can greatly alter the ecosystems ecological health as they are apex predators in the demersal food web and their stock depletions would result in the alteration of the ecosystem.]]>Agembe, S., C.M. Mlewa and B. Kaunda-Arara,2010Serranidae) from inshore waters of Kenya.]]>991102Hossain, M.Y., J. Ohtomi and Z.F. Ahmed,2009Puntius sarana (Hamilton, 1822) (Cyprinidae) in the Ganges river, Northwestern Bangladesh.]]>9223225Ogongo, O.B., M.E. Chenje and F.B. Mulwa,2015Epinephelus genus groupers off Kenyan South coast marine waters.]]>10159170Anam, R. and E. Mostarda,20122012Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall,19931993Hossain, M.Y., M.M. Rahman and M.F.A. Mollah,2009Pangasius pangasius Hamilton-buchanan, 1822 (Pangasiidae).]]>84315316Kaunda-Arara, B., G.A. Rose, M.S. Muchiri and R. Kaka,20032105116McClanahan, T.R. and N.A.J. Graham,2005294241248Sani, R., B.K. Gupta, U.K. Sarkar, A. Pandey, V.K. Dubey and W.S. Lakra,201026456459UNEP and WIOMSA.,20152015Esseen, M. and M.D. Richmond,20112011pp: 340-379pp: 340-379Jennings, S. and M.J. Kaiser,199834201212, 212e, 213-352Myers, R.A., J.K. Baum, T.D. Shepherd, S.P. Powers and C.H. Peterson,200731518461850Ayoade, A.A. and A.O.O. Ikulala,2007Hemichromis bimaculatus, Sarotherodon melanotheron and Chromidotilapia guentheri (Perciformes: Cichlidae) in Eleiyele Lake, Southwestern Nigeria.]]>55969977Beyer, J.E.,198751113Sarkar, U.K., G.E. Khan, A. Dabas, A.K. Pathak and J.I. Mir et al.,201334951956Bolarinwa, J.B. and Q. Popoola,20132013Muchlisin, Z.A., M. Musman and M.N.S. Azizah,2010Rasbora tawarensis and Poropuntius tawarensis, endemic to Lake Laut Tawar, Aceh Province, Indonesia.]]>26949953Sarkar, U.K., P.K. Deepak and R.S. Negi,2009Chitala chitala (Hamilton 1822) from the River Ganga basin, India.]]>25232233Froese, R. and D. Pauly,20112011Froese, R.,200622241253Cone, R.S.,1989118510514Hossain, M.Y., M.M. Rahman, B. Fulanda, M.A.S. Jewel, F. Ahamed and J. Ohtomi,201228275277Gupta, B.K., U.K. Sarkar, S.K. Bhardwaj and A. Pal,2011Ompok pabda (Hamilton 1822) (Siluriformes: Siluridae) from the River Gomti, a tributary of the River Ganga, India.]]>27962964Naeem, M., A. Salam and A. Ishtiaq,2011Tor putitora from Pakistan.]]>2711331134Naeem, M., A. Salam, Q. Gillani and A. Ishtiaq,2010Notopterus notopterus and introduced Oreochromis niloticus from the Indus River, southern Punjab, Pakistan.]]>26620620Patiyal, R.S., R.C. Sharma, P. Punia, M. Goswami and W.S. Lakra,2010Tor putitora (Hamilton, 1822) from the Ladhiya River, Uttarakhand, India.]]>26472473Yousaf, M., A. Salam and M. Naeem,2009Wallago attu and Sperata sarwari from the Indus River, Southern Punjab, Pakistan.]]>25614615Hossain, M.Y. and J. Ohtomi,2010Trachysalambria curvirostris (Penaeidae) in Kagoshima Bay, southern Japan.]]>307582Mangi, S.,20062006McClanahan, T.R., C.C. Hicks and E.S. Darling,20081815161529Anderson, R.O. and S.J. Gutreuter,19891989pp: 283-300pp: 283-300Laurence, G.C.,197976890895