Investigation of the Composition, Abundance and Distribution of Fish Species in Ebenebe River, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

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. of fisheries. 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 Ebenebe River in Awka, Anambra State was investigated in the present study. A total of 1086 fishes were obtained from fishermen within three months, covering 6 families and 12 species with the cichlidae having the highest dominance of 41.06%, followed by the Alestidae (16.06%) and Notopteridae 16.06%). However the dominant fish species observed during the study was Chromiditilapia guntheri (23.7%); Papyrocranus afer (14.3%) and  Thysimichromia ansorgii(11.8%).The least abundance fish species were Synodontis filamentous (4.7%), Synodontis ngirita (2.6%) and Brycinus macrolepidotus (2.1%). Conservation policies are urgently needed to protect some species from going into extinction.