Techno – efficiency of double valves of non - return basket trap and wire gauze trap in Lagos Lagoon, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

A Comparative study was conducted in the Abule Eleedu creek and Lagos lagoon, between April and September, 2017 to determine the efficiency of the wire gauze trap and double valves basket trap as a selective fishing gear for sustainable development. Four hundred and fifty-eight fishes belonging to four families were caught during the study. Fin and shell fishes caught in the study include Bathygobius soporator, Ophichthus rufus, Callinectes amnicola and Macrobrachium vollenhoevenii. The most abundant catch (M. vollenhoevenii) represented 36.9% of the entire catch. The mean of the catches of basket trap (57.17±17.11) was significantly higher than the mean of the catches of wire gauze traps (19.17±21.04). The mean catches in the lagoon (56.17±11.48) were significantly higher than the mean of catches in the creek (20.17±4.71). The mean catches in the night (54.67±11.52) were significantly higher than the mean catches in the day (21.67±6.31) but there was no significant difference in the catch abundance of soap bait (38.83±8.42) and coconut bait (37.50±10.79). The low species diversity obtained in this study is an indication that wire gauze and double valves, basket traps are highly selective fishing gears and are good for the sustainable development of fishery stocks.