Cultivable fish seeds in Nigeria coastal waters: A research survey( second phase: 1986 -1989.

The first phase of the project (1978 –19850 on fish seed abundance in Nigerian coastal waters was completed and published in 1985 proceedings of Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON). The second phase (1986 –1989) explored further, breeding grounds, nursery and schooling areas and traditional fishing gears used by local fishermen in the collection of seeds. An assessment is made of the destructive effects of industrial pollutants, oil installations, erosion, modern coastal developments, and tides in the distribution and abundance of seeds within the estuaries, creeks lagoons coastal rivers and their tributaries. Analysis of data collected showed a drastic reduction of an estimated 100 million fish seeds, Ezenwa et al (1985) to 51.7 million at the end of 1989. Major factors found responsible for this situation include industrial pollutants from over 2000 industrial establishments located in the coastal cities of Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar; alarming retreat of the coastline due to erosion; modern coastal development and reclamation of coastal marches. Percentage composition of the six major fish groups, showed the predominance of seeds of shrimps and prawns with a total of 13.7 million (26.50%); followed by the catfishes, 12.4 million (23.98%); Tilapia group, 11.0 million (21.28½%); Mullets, 9.5 million (18.38%); predators 3.9 million (6.96%); and lastly the herbivorous group 1.5 million (2.90%). Water and soil parameters of the identified breeding grounds, nursery and schooling areas were determined. Areas of fine, coarse and medium sand particles were found to act as filteration beds for nursery grounds of mullets, and tilapia while prawns and shrimps prefer the muddy, silty areas of the lagoons, estuaries and creeks.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ezenwa, B.I., Alegbeleye, W.O., Anyanwu, P.E.
Format: Report biblioteca
Language:English
Published: 1990
Subjects:Fish culture, Seed production,
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1834/2412
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