A Study of the Fish Fauna of Tagwai Lake Minna, Nigeria, in Relation to Gear selectivity.

Abstract

The fish fauna of Tagwai Lake Minna, Nigeria, was studied from July to September, 2010. Sampling was carried out during the day using different gears. A total of 1,669 specimens were sampled made up of 8 species in 7 genera and 6 families. Variation in the mesh size used greatly influenced catch in the lake. Cash net recorded the highest amount of catch (1,435) and gill net recorded the highest amount of fish species (6). Two Cichlids species, Tilapia zilli and Sarotherodon galilaeus were the most abundant in the catch, amounting to 33.01 and 26.06%, respectively. The families of Cichlidae and Mormyridae were the most abundant constituting 59.18 and 29.95% of the total catch respectively. Fish abundance showed low catches during the raining season (33.01%) and daytime.