Raining Season Ecological Survey of Artisanal Fish Landings in Tungbo, Bayelsa State, Niger Delta

Abstract

Artisanal Fishers catch in Tungbo river was studied to examine the various fish species and percentage abundance  in Tungbo River between June-September 2017. Fish landings and gears used by Fishers were recorded at the different landing sites. Samples were collected every month randomly from the landing of artisanal fishers. Samples were identified with description checklist and keys to the species level. One hundred and ninety individuals (190) belonging to 12 families and twenty-one (21) species were identified. Synodontis ocellifer was the most abundant accounting for 16.84% of the catch. Gymnarchus niloticus and Malaptenurus electricus were the least having 0.53% abundance each.   Cichlidae was the most dominated family (35.79%) while Malapteruridae and Gymnarchidae were the least dominated families of 0.53% each. Gears used were basket trap (Milian trap), hook and line, gill net, cast net, drum trap, and drag net. Gill net caught more fish species than other gears while the cast net recorded the least landing.