Asian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research

This study was conducted to assess the population parameters of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, in the Khashm El-Girba Dam Reservoir in Eastern Sudan. Fish samples were collected from December 2019 to November 2020. Length-frequency data were collected from 1,671 specimens ranging from 5.1 to 34.2 cm in total length (TL). Analysis of the population parameters was determined using the ELEFAN I routine and the FiSAT II software computer program revealed that the estimated the Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were as follows: asymptotic length (L_∞ = 36.75 cm), growth rate (K = 0.650 year ^-1) and age at length zero (t₀ = -0.629) and the growth performance index (Φ') was calculated at 2.943. The instantaneous total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M), and fishing mortality (F) rates were determined using the length-converted catch curve and empirical models. The values obtained were Z = 2.38 year ^-1, M = 1.22 year ^-1, and F = 1.16 year ^-1, respectively. The exploitation rate (E) of the Nile tilapia was calculated at 0.49 year ^-1. The size at first capture (L_c) was estimated at 15.64 cm, which is slightly greater than the size at first maturity (L_m = 14.5 cm) and longevity (T_max) was found to be 4.62 years. These findings indicate that the stock of the Nile tilapia population in Khashm El-Girba reservoir is overexploited, and that monitoring and management practices need to be employed to maintain the stocks at the optimum exploitation level.