Résumé
The potential for the clupeid fish Ethmalosa fimbriata to serve as an indicator of pollution in three bays of the Ebrie Lagoon, Ivory Coast, was studied. Bietri Bay is most severely polluted from industrial and urban waste, while Cocody Bay is eutrophic and Sud Boulay Bay is least polluted. Comparison of various biological characteristics of E. fimbriata among the bays revealed that size at first maturity was lowest in the most polluted bay, higher in Cocody Bay, and highest in the unpolluted bay. E. fimbriata is a hardy fish, showed in its domination of polluted waters (>75% of total number of fish caught in Bietri Bay). Fish diversity increased and degree of structure in the fish community increased in less polluted waters.