A survey of the artisanal fisheries of kontagora reservoir, Niger state, Nigeria

Abstract

A survey of the artisanal fisheries of Kontagora Reservoir was conducted between January –
December, 2007, using statistical frame survey and catch assessment survey. Five fish families
made up seven fish species were recorded. The fish species Hemichromis fasciatus, a cichlid was
the most dominant with mean value of 414.3 and 7715 in terms of number and weight respectively.
Nineteen fishermen using gill nets, cast nets, hook and line sets, and Malian traps as fishing gears
were recorded in the reservoir with a total mean catch of 4.40kg/canoe or 167 fishes/canoe. The
reservoir was productive and comparable with other smaller but productive African lakes. The
monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) system was suggested for management consideration,
with emphasis on registration of fishermen and their fishing equipment, enforcement of minimum
marsh size of 3” and establishment of community based cooperative scheme.