Length-Weight Relationship of 33 Fish Species and Their Potential Overexploitation from the Hurghada Fish Market, Red Sea, Egypt

Instead of sampling at the landing site to ensure a wide diversity of fish length ranges, this study examined the fisheries status, well-being, and exploitation characteristics of 33 fish species from the Red Sea, collected at the main fish market in Hurghada. A total of 2,182 fish specimens, representing 33 species, were measured for body weight (g) and total length (cm). The largest and heaviest species was Variola louti, with a maximum total length of 71cm and a weight of 2,700g. Euthynnus affinis recorded the greatest weight at 3,000g and a length of 68cm. Across all species, growth patterns varied between allometric and isometric. Positive allometric growth (b> 3) was observed in seven species, negative allometric growth (b< 3) in 24 species, and isometric growth (b= 3) in two species. The mean condition factor (Kc) ranged from 0.66 to 1.8, with values below 1.0 recorded for only four species. The lowest mean relative weight condition factor (Kn) values were found in Atule mate (0.97 ± 0.09), Parupeneus forsskali (0.98 ± 0.09), Priacanthus hamrur (0.97 ± 0.15), Plectorhinchus gaterinus (0.96 ± 0.11), and Acanthopagrus bifasciatus (0.99 ± 0.09), indicating relatively poor growth conditions for these species. In contrast, all other species exhibited Kn values above 1.0, suggesting favorable environmental conditions for growth. The highest calculated Kn values were recorded for Lutjanus monostigma (1.02 ± 0.09) and Lutjanus fulviflamma (1.02 ± 0.08). The allometric condition factor (Ka) was rarely applied, as it is only used when a fish species displays an allometric growth pattern or when sufficient data are available to estimate the b-value with a minimal margin of error.