FISH FAUNA IN LOWER RIVER NIGER AT IDAH IN KOGI STATE

*Solomon S.G. Okomoda V.T. and Aladi. S.L.

Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture

 University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria

*e-mail: solagabriel@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Fish stock assessment is an integral part of the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and a major key for planning, formulation and execution of fisheries policies and programmes especially in the artisanal sector, the rapidly declining catch from fish landing is a possible indication that the fish yields of most Nigerian inland waters are generally low for causes that may range from inadequate management of fisheries to degradation of water bodies. Fish fauna of lower river Niger at Idah in Kogi State was investigated in the present study. 250 fishes were obtained from contracted fishermen within five months, covering 13 families and 26 species with the Mochokidae having the highest dominance of 18.07%, followed by the Cichlidae (16.47%) and Mormyrydae (12.05%). However the dominant fish species observed during the study was Synodontis budgetti (12.05%) and preceded by Tilpia zilli (8.43%) and Mormyrus rume (8.03%).The least abundance fish species were Clarotes macrocephalus (1.2%), Clarotes laticeps (1.2%) and Gymnachus niloticus (0.8%) least condition factor of 0.5 were recorded for Gymnarchus niloticus while Schilbe mystus had the highest condition factor of 3.99. Conservation policies are urgently needed to protect some species from going into extinction.