Finfish Species distribution and seasonality in Odi River, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Finfish species distribution and seasonality in Odi River, Niger Delta,  Nigeria were studied in the Kolokuma/Opokuma axis of the River Odi for six months (November 2011 to January 2012 to enhance management decision. All finfish species caught were recorded in all sampling stations except Anaspidoglanis akiri, Chiloglanis benuensis and Barbus aboinensis absent in Station 1, Alestes dentex absent in Station 2, Bagrus docmak absent in Stations 2 and 3 and Auchenoglanis biscutatus absent in Station 3. The highest percentage composition of finfish (36.2%) was recorded in Station 3 and the least (31.2%) was recorded in Station 1. There was no significant difference in finfish in the various stations. Wet season  percentage composition (61.4%) was higher than dry season (38.6%). The highest monthly finfish percentage composition was recorded for December (37 .3) in the dry season and May (40.5) in the rainy season. All fishes  recorded were present in both dry and rainy seasons except Bagrus bajad, Bagrus filamentosus, Bagrus docmak which were absent in rainy season  and Aplocheilichthys kingii, Barbus aboinensis absent in the dry season.  Fish caught and its seasonality in number did not show any significant  difference.

Key Words: Fish population, Distribution, Seasonality, Odi River