Length–girth relationships for 30 marine fish species

This study reports the estimated relationships between body length and girths (head and maximum) for 30 commercially important marine fish species from the Algarve coast (southern Portugal). A total of 15,005 specimens were sampled. Both Gh and Gmax increased linearly with body length for all the species. Estimated mesh sizes to produce minimal catches of juveniles and/or undersized specimens and the implications for the management of those species are also discussed. The results suggest that the minimum legal mesh size is not suitable for some of the studied species.