Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of white grouper Epinephelus aeneus ( Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, 1817) in the Mediterranean coast of Sinai, Egypt

This study describes the first documented length-weight relationship and condition factor of the white grouper Epinephelus aeneusin on the Mediterranean coast of Sinai, Egypt. A total of 697 specimens with an average length of 34.6 cm and weight 593.0 g were monthly sampled from January 2019 to December 2020. For each specimen, length (cm) and weight (g) were measured. The length-weight relationship was described by the equation: W = a L^b, while the condition factor was calculated using the equation: K = 100 (W/ L³). Condition factor was calculated monthly and according to the length group. The values of the regression coefficients obtained for the length-weight relationship were 2.9327, 2.8847 and 3.1141 having r² values of 0.9392, 0.9438 and 0.9616 for males, females and combined sexes of the studied species, respectively. Condition factor (K) of males, females and combined sexes of E. aeneus was fluctuated monthly and related to lengths groups. It was concluded that general well-being was observed for this species, since condition factor more than 1 (K= 1.20, 1.30 and 1.20 for males; females and combined sexes, respectively). The current study's findings can be used as baseline data for this species in the examined area.