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Growth patterns and condition factors of five marine demersal fin and shell fishes from Nigerian coastal water (FAO, Area 34) was studied. These were: Parapenaeopsis atlantica, Penaeus monodon, Penaeus notialis, Portunus validus and Cynoglossus browni. Five hundred and six (506) specimen were sampled from 32 fishing trawlers owned by Olokun Pisces Limited (Lat N 60 28Ë¡ 24Ë¡Ë¡, Long E 30 22Ë¡ 50Ë¡Ë¡) and assessed for morphometric data. Study revealed the Mean weight (Mean±SE) of P. atlantica, P. monodon, P. notialis, P. validus and C. browni: 9.42 ±0.26, 96.79 ± 2.38, 26.82 ± 1.34, 284.09 ± 7.34 and 411.09 ± 15.27g respectively. The Length - weight relationship (LWR) showed that all species had positively allometric growth, except for P. atlantica, which had a negative allometric growth of b = 1.03(<3). The condition factor (K-factor) was highest in P. validus (8.77) and lowest in C. browni (0.412). Further analysis to determine the distribution of individual species using boxplots indicated that P. atlantica and P. notialis are similar for the entire variables considered. Relatively, weak positive correlation was observed between body depth and weight. However, Environmental considerations should be given priority because the condition of well-being of the fishes shows relative/marginal growth.
