The Resources of the Niger Delta
11.4.2 FRESH-WATER FISHING
Fresh-water fishing appears to be of less economic importance than fishing in the Saltwater ecozones. The catch is lower and both fishermen and women complain of declining catches. Many women say they catch only for the pot and that there is nothing left over for sale. This is borne out by investigations of local markets. Nonetheless the extensive floated lines and nets seen in the wider rivers suggest that despite turbidity and increasing pollution, fishing is a worthwhile economic activity. Moreover fish trapping in swamps, streams and lakes is a common practice.
The major fish species found in the Niger Delta and other Southern Nigerian fresh waters are well known to researchers, and there is a general opinion that they are underutilised. The potential for small-scale fish farming is high but river fishing is likely to beincreasingly limited by pollution and, in the white water rivers, by turbidity.
Common in the turbid waters of the Niger Delta are the Catfish, which do not have scales (classified as the animal order Siluriformes). One of the most common is the small (100-150mm) Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus which is yellow having spiny back and side fins. Also common is the slightly larger Mud-Catfish, Clarias anguillaris.
Of the scaly fish the large African River Pike, Hepsetus odoe, the small Moonfish, Citharinus latus, and many types of Tilapia are common.
Some of the more common fish are set out hereunder.
SOME FRESH-WATER FISH OF THE NIGER DELTA AND NEIGHBOURING RIVER SYSTEMS
Siluriformes
- Family Bagridae (Catfish): smooth skin, broad heads, wide mouths, concave tail fins, and the obvious 'whiskers' known as Barbels.
- Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, large with a pointed snout.
- Bagrus docmak, flattened head.
- Auchenoglanis occidentalis, obvious 'leopard' spots.
- Family Clariidae (Mud Catfish) which are also able to breathe air with very primitive lung-like organs close to the Gills: differentiated from the Bagridae by a convex tail fin and very clear elongated fins along the back and belly.
- Clarias gariepinus, a small fish with obvious 'leopard' spots on its back.
- Clarias anguillaris, one of the smallest Mud catfish, having a stripy back.
- Heterobranchus bidorsalis, a large fish.
- Heterobranchus longifilis, also large.
Scaly Fish
- Family Cichlidae, the Tilapia and Tilapia-like fishes: small and scaly; vertically flat; long fins along their backs broken into segments, called Rays, by spines; and comparatively large tail fins.
- Order Characiformes: fish which have fins without rays, including a number of families which include the following species.
- Hydrocynus lineatus, the Tigerfish, having its distinct stripes along each row of horny scales.
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