Thirty-seven (37) species belonging to fifteen (15) families were identified during twelve months period of study (2020/21), on river Benue valley. Fish biodiversity and abundance showed a significance increase with increasing fishing efforts. The highest catch per unit effort was observed in Gongola/Benue confluents in Numan and kocheyel with more than 80.89kg/day and 78.29 kg/day with a cumulative fish weight of more than 432347.8kg per annum and 341931kg respectively. The lowest catch per unit efforts was observed in Parda and Gwakra with 24.97kg/day and 29.59 kg/day and a cumulative fish weight of 114321.5kg and 122008.2kg per annum respectively. Fishing gears used during the study indicates frequent use of gill/cast nets with 45% rate and traps at 43% rate, and other gears like hooks and line showed the lowest catch at 12%. The percentage composition of boats/canoes used during fishing was highest in Wurobokki at 25% and lowest in Parda with 13% rate. The highest number of fish species was observed in the family Claridae with five different spp and a cumulative number of 13119 fish followed by family Mormyridae with five spp with a cumulative number of 12075 fish and then followed by family, Cichlidae with four spp and a cumulative fish amounting to 12015. The lowest fish spp observed was Distichodoidae, Arapaimidae and Malapteruridae. Therefore, the most dominant fish amongst the family family were Claridae and Mormyridae and the near extinction fish family was Channidae. The dominant fish amongst the species were Alestes boremose followed by Schilbe intermedius, hydrocynus and Oreochromis. The decreasing number of fish species observed amongst the family Channidae was an indication that the river was under fishing pressure. Meanwhile, the mean physic-chemical parameters in the study areas revealed a normal water quality parameters throughout the year, except for the conductivity and total dissolved solid whose levels were high during raining season and low in the dry season. Results of the fish abundance indicates positive correlation with the water quality in all the stations studied. Hence, there were fish abundance and a sustainable livelihood amongst the fishermen.
Published Date: 2022-07-30; Received Date: 2022-07-02
