Assessment of recreational fisheries components of two man-made lakes in Western Nigeria

Abstract

In recent times there has been an increasing desire for activities that could reduce stress posed by the economic recession and the global climatic change. Studies have shown that recreational fisheries can serve as antidote for the myriads of ecological, economic, psychological and physiological problems imposed by these two phenomena. Given the various benefits (relaxation, adventure, food, habitat and resource restoration) of recreational fisheries, this study aimed at assessing the recreational fisheries components of some lakes in South Western Nigeria for the purpose of exploitation. The recreational fisheries resources were assessed for a period of 12 months using appropriate criteria for classification as ornamentals, game or food fishes. Game species (31.29%) were more important than ornamentals (2.92%) and were dominated by Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Lates niloticus, and Parachanna obscura in Lake Asejire. Ornamentals (32.05%) were more than game (8.21%) and were dominated by Hemichromis spp, Pelmatochromis sp. in Lake Eleyele. Significant differences exist between seasonal numbers (t = 4.45, P = 0.00) and weight (t = 4.02, P = 0.00) of ornamental species. The resources at Asejire Lake can support sustainable sport-fishing while sustainable ornamental fishery could be developed at Eleyele.