4.

FISHERY RESOURCES OF NIGERIAN

INLAND WATERS (Contd.)
Table 21. Species composition, density and ichthyomass of fish captured from three stations with
rotenone at Bakolori Reservoir, Sokoto State, Nigeria in May 1982.

Total Total % % Density Ichthyomass Mean

FAMILY/SPECIES
No. Wt. (g) No. (Wt.) per ha. per ha. Wt.(g)
CICHLIDAE
Oreochromis
290 6042 17.7 43.3 655.4 13.65 21
niloticus
Sarotherodon
237 3847 14.4 27.6 535.6 8.69 16
galilaeus
Tilapia zillii 14 380 0.9 2.7 31.6 0.86 27
Total 33.0 73.6 1222.6 23.20

CYPRINIDAE
Labeo senegalensis 204 971 12.4 7.0 461.0 2.19 5
Labeo coubie 57 334 3.5 2.4 128.8 0.75 6
Labeo parvus 17 175 1.0 1.3 38.4 0.40 10
Labeo pseudocoubie 14 15 0.9 0.1 31.6 0.03 1
Barbus spp. 189 362 11.5 2.6 427.1 0.82 2
Total 29.3 13.4 1086.9 4.19

BAGRIDAE
Chrysichthys
270 692 16.6 6.1 610.2 1.56 3
auratus
MORMYRIDAE
Petrocephalus bane 199 610 12.1 4.4 449.7 1.38 3
CHARACIDAE
Alestes leuciscus 121 237 7.4 1.7 273.5 0.54 2
Alestes baremose 9 55 0.6 0.4 20.3 0.12 6
 Alestes nurse 6 6 0.4 0.04 13.6 0.01 1
Total 8.4 2.1 307.4 0.67

MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis
10 190 0.6 1.4 22.5 0.43 19
gambiensis
CLARIIDAE
*Clarias anguillaris 2 25 0.1 0.2 4.5 0.06 13
SCHILBEIDAE
*Schilbe mystus 2 12 0.1 0.1 4.5 0.03 6

TOTAL 1642 13953 3708.3 31.52

* Classified as carnivorous species.

Percentage weight of carnivores = 0.3%
Additional species from gillnet and commercial catches = Synodontis membranaceus,
Malapterurus electricus, Monnyrus rume and Physailia pellucida.

A gillnet survey was conducted with great difficulty on account of the uncleared bush. A total of
1,260 m2 of net was set along the shore and a similar fleet set at the surface of the open water.
Because of the problem of nets entangled in the bush, the gillnet catches did not reflect the
relative abundance of species in the rotenone survey. Only nine species were recorded out of the
sixteen recorded in the rotenone samples. Day fishing was attempted using the gillnets because
of the relatively low transparency of the water (0.2 m). It was confirmed that the lake was highly
turbid throughout the year. The ratio of day to night catches was 1:4. The estimated catch per
1,000 m2 of gillnet per night was about 261 gm. This was extremely low compared with the other
reservoirs discussed earlier.

A statistical frame and catch assessment survey of the artisanal fisheries was also conducted in
Bakolori Reservoir. The frame survey revealed a total of about 80 professional fishermen and
313 others, located in 16 fishing villages out of a total of 27 villages identified along the shore of
the lake. Thirty boats and 82 gourds were also counted. Only two out of the 30 boats were
operated with outboard engines for passenger transport services. gillnet were recorded in only six
villages compared with hooks in thirteen villages. The low concentration of gillnet (usually the
most popular gear in other man-made lakes) was attributed to the relatively poor catches and the
short life span of nets in areas with uncleared bush. This was confirmed by the experience of the
survey team.

The mean catch per boat from a random selection of artisanal fishermen was 4.3 kg per night.
This was low when compared with Jebba, Shiroro and Tiga Reservoirs, as expected on the basis
of the low standing crop estimate for the lake. The only species recorded in the artisanal landings
were Alestes spp., Clarias spp., tilapias, Synodontis spp. and Labeo spp. Alestes dominated the
catch, followed by tilapias.

With a surface area of 80 km2, only about 80 boats and 160 fishermen should have been
registered to fish in the reservoir. At its current low production level the estimated 80
professional fishermen and 313 others then operating in the reservoir could overfish the stock.

The potential conductivity of Bakolori reservoir was estimated to be about 323.8 μS cm-1 using
the mean percentage increase between the maximum conductivity observed for The River Sokoto
(Holden and Green, 1960) and that expected in the reservoir (Table 11). However, with a
flushing rate of 2:1 (i.e. the reservoir empties itself twice in one year), as estimated from the
discharge in the main irrigation canal of (30 m3/sec) and the storage capacity of 450 million m3,
the conductivity is likely to be lower than expected with about a 12% increase above that
recorded for the river (i.e. about 287 μS cm-1). Thus with the MEI of 48 matched against the
regression line of Henderson and Welcomme (1974) the expected catch could be approximated
at 50 kg/ha.

The above estimate of potential yield is far above the observed standing crop of 32 kg/ha
suggesting that the present fish production in Bakolori Lake is much below its potential.
Assuming that the expected potential catch of 50 kg/ha is about one third of the production, then
the fish production at Bakolori could be estimated at 150 kg/ha with a total production of 1,200
mt for the 8,000 ha reservoir. The expected yield at one third of the production is estimated at
400 tonnes a year.

The actual range of conductivity observed in Bakolori Lake (Adeniji, 1980) was between 58 and
70 μS cm-1 during the rainy season. Adeniji cites FAO (1969) as confirming the low conductivity
of the surface waters of the Sokoto River in the area of Bakolori Lake with figures ranging
between 20 and 60 μS cm-1 during the rainy season but rising to about 200 μS cm-1 during the
dry season. This suggests that the highest conductivity (256 μS cm-1) observed by Holden and
Green (1960) was recorded during the dry season. Adeniji (op.cit.) using a derived total
dissolved solids (from conductivity records) of 47 to 58 ppm for the lakes estimates the potential
fish production at about 25 to 40 kg/ha, or 200 to 300 mt/yr for the lake. This estimate was rather
lower than ours which is not unexpected since our figures were based on the upper limits of dry
season conductivity whereas Adeniji's estimates were based on the lower conductivities of the
rainy season.

Other factors, such as low Secchi disc transparency (high turbidity) and low shoreline
development (a relatively regular shoreline with few inlets) could mitigate against the
productivity of Bakolori Reservoir. The relationship of Secchi disc transparency to depth of
euphotic zone (light penetration) (Table 22) shows that turbidity affects light penetration, and
therefore the rate of photosynthesis, resulting in decreased primary productivity. With an
observed maximum transparency of 0.5 metres in May, light penetration was at its lowest in
Bakolori reservoir and hence primary productivity would be expected to be relatively low. The
observed pelagic primary production (Adeniji, 1980) was 0.125 mg C/1/day at 0.1 m and also at
0.3 m depth. No production was observed beyond a depth of 0.3 metres. Karlman (1973)
compares the range of primary production in Kainji Lake with those of other tropical lakes. The
data show that Kainji, with a range of 0.0–1.8 g C/m2/day is about the lowest, compared with
Lake Volta with a range of 0.8–5.3 g C/m2/day, and Lake Nasser with a range of 3.0–7.2 g
C/m2/day.

The turbidity in Bakolori was similar to that observed in Kainji Lake during the “White Flood”
around September. The colloidal turbidity in Lake Kainji is attributed to the kaoline clay
particles in the local soils which form the major component of the colloidal particles (Henderson,
1973). The settling time of the particles in Kainji Lake was observed to be very low (less than
50% per month) and it is believed that under the turbulent conditions of the lake it must be
negligible. Whereas Kainji Lake is blessed with the arrival of the “Black Flood” from the upper
Niger which flushes away the white flood and restores its blue colour and higher transparency,
the turbidity in Bakolori was relatively permanent because of the turbulence of the water. In
Kainji Lake, the colloidal particles in the water are observed to hinder the transmission of blue
and green light and rather favour the transmission of red light. The persistence of such turbidity
is bound to have a negative effect on the productivity of Bakolori Reservoir.

The poor shoreline development, with a relatively small littoral area, is bound to limit spawning
and nursery areas of most of the species. The shore development factor is defined as the ratio of
the actual shoreline to the shoreline of a perfectly circular lake of the same area, and is thus a
measure of the shoreline extension produced by bays and other indentations of the lake. Kainji
Lake with a perimeter of 720 km and surface area of 1,280 km2 has a shore development factor
at high water of 5.65. Natural lakes with idealized circular form have values around 2. With a
surface area of 80 km2 and a shoreline (perimeter) length of 107 km the shore development
factor for Bakolori Reservoir is 3.4. This is much lower than that of Kainji, as can be observed
from the regular shape of the shoreline on the map. Whereas Tiga and Kainji reservoirs are
blessed with abundant shore vegetation during most periods of the year, on the evidence of the
sparsely distributed vegetation cover along the drawdown area observed during the survey in
May 1982, Bakolori reservooir was unlikely to develop a stable shoreline vegetation.

Table 22. The ratio of maximum depth of Secchi disc transparency (metres) to
maximum depth of euphotic zone (metres) in some African reservoirs.

Maximum Secchi disc Maximum depth of

Lake Ratio
transparency (m) euphotic zone
Tiga 2.0 4.8* 1:2.4
Kainji 3.0 8.0 1:2.7
Volta 4.5 10.0 1:2.2
Nasser 4.0 10.0 1:2.5
Kariba 10.6 24.0 1:2.3
Kossou 3.0 7.2* 1:2.4
Bakolori 0.5 1.2* 1:2.4
Mean Ratio 1:2.4
 N.B. * = Data extrapolated from mean ratio
Source: (Ita et. al., 1982)

GORONYO RESERVOIR (pre-impoundment survey)

The Goronyo dam was still under construction at the time of this investigation. However, since
the main objective of the survey was to predict the productivity of the proposed Goronyo
Reservoir, with an estimated surface area of 200 km2 at maximum water elevation, and since the
Goronyo Reservoir was to be colonized by species from the Rima River, a closer look at the
species of fish in the temporary pools of the river was necessary.

The Rima is a seasonal river and flows only during the rainy season. At the time of the
investigation (May 1982) only stagnant pools were observed along the channel. Fishing activities
were minimal with only a few local fishermen seen using clapnets and dragnets. The dragnets,
measuring over 100 metres in length and 6 metres deep, were made of nylon netting with a 1.0
inch stretched mesh. In order to predict the future species composition and successional changes
in the proposed reservoir three stations were blocked and sampled with fish toxicant along the
temporary pools of water. No portion of the river channel containing water was more than 20
metres wide within the 5 km stretch covered by the survey. Some pools were however, over one
kilometre long. The pools were devoid of aquatic macrophytes but rich in filamentous algae,
possibly resulting from fertilization by cattle dung littered along the edges. The bottom of the
pools was muddy and rich in organic matter. In some of the pools recently disturbed by cattle the
water was turbid but the particles appeared to settle and in some undisturbed pools presented the
blue green appearance of an algal bloom. Some pools had a maximum depth of more than 2
metres and the channel was winding, with steep cliffs at irregular intervals along the shore. The
opposite shore to most of the cliffs was always gently sloping and cattle were able to reach the
water to drink without difficulty.

The relative composition of the species sampled from the temporary pools of the Rima River is
compared with those of Kainji, Tiga and Bakolori Reservoirs in Table 23. The family
Mochokidae ranked first in terms of percentage weight, mostly dominated by Synodontis
gambiensis of relatively small sizes (mean weight 20 g). The mormyrids (mostly Petrocephalus
bane) dominated in terms of percentage number (mean weight only 4 g). Only one Gnathonemus
senegalensis and one Mormyrops deliciosus (mean weights 20 g and 3 g respectively) were
recorded, making up a total of 3 mormyrid species. The Mochokidae were second in importance
in terms of percentage number followed by the Schilbeidae with 26% and 22% respectively. The
Characidae were fourth in importance in terms of number and were dominated by Alestes
baremose and A. leuciscus in order of importance. The cichlids came fifth in terms of number
with Oreochromis niloticus, S. galilaeus and Tilapia zillii represented in the proportion of 1.5:1:1
respectively. The cyprinids although represented by Labeo senegalensis, L. coubie and Barbus
spp. were not important in terms of either number or weight. These three species had mean
weights of 15,2 and 1 g respectively. The total estimated density and ichthyomass of fish per
hectare were 16,911 and 141 kg respectively. An estimate of the ratio forage to carnivorous fish
was 7. This was considered to be good for such exposed pools of water without cover for the
forage species.
Unlike the Rima River pools, in Kainji, Tiga and Bakolori reservoirs (Table 24) the family
Cichlidae ranked highest in terms of both ichthyomass and density of fish per hectare. The
dominant species of cichlids in the three lakes were Sarotherodon galilaeus and Oreochrom is
niloticus, popularly called tilapia. This agrees with the pattern observed in most African
reservoirs where the cichlids are known to dominate. In Kainji Lake however, the cichlids were
not the dominant species during the first few years after impoundment. Factors associated with
unstable shore vegetation cover were responsible for the deviation of Kainji Lake from the
pattern observed in other African reservoirs. Figure 7 shows a significant correlation between
standing crop (ichthyomass) and density of fish in Kainji Lake.

Three other families, the Bagridae, Characidae and Cyprinidae (Table 24) were also dominant in
all three reservoirs. While the tilapias dominated among the cichlids, Chrysichthys auratus
tended to dominate among the bagrids and Alestes baremose, A. leusiscus and A. nurse among
the characids. Among the cyprinids, Labeo senegalensis, L. coubie and Barbus species tended to
dominate. There is thus a close similarity between the three reservoirs (Kainji, Tiga and
Bakolori) in terms of dominant species.

Table 23. Comparison of standing stock (kg) and density of fish species and families captured in
rotenone samples in Kainji Lake between 1975 and 1976 (From Ita. 1982) with those captured in
Tiga (1976), Bakolori (1982) and Rima River (1982).

Kainji Tiga Bakolori Rima River

Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean
Family/species kg/ha no/ha kg/ha no/ha kg/ha no/ha kg/ha no/ha
CICHLIDAE
Sarotherodon galilaeus 42.39 1470.89 25.4 881.2 8.69 535.6 0.41 69.0
Oreochromis niloticus 35.22 324.29 12.9 424.1 13.65 655.4 4.10 179.3
Tilapia zillii 24.96 559.22 8.9 193.8 0.86 31.6 0.35 69.0
Chromidotilapia
1.71 148.58 - - - - - -
guentheri
Hemichromis faciatus 0.23 9.47 - - - - - -
H. bimaculatus 0.17 28.54 1.1 106.0 - - - -
Tilapia dageti 0.01 0.34 - - - - - -
104.69 2541.33 48.3 1605.1 23.20 1222.6 4.86 317.3
BAGRIDAE
Bagrus bayad 15.56 71.00 - - - - 1.38 13.8
Chrysichthys auratus 9.51 993.18 0.2 4.6 1.56 610.2 - -
Auchenoglanis
5.76 144.16 44.5 416.1 - - - -
occidentalis
Clarotes laticeps 1.85 45.45 - - - - - -
Auchenoglanis
1.48 7.12 - - - - - -
biscutatus
Bagrus docmac 0.99 5.52 - - - - - -
Chrysichthys
0.73 38.89 - - - - - -
nigrodigitatus
C. furcatus 0.03 0.12 - - - - - -
35.91 1305.44 44.7 420.7 1.56 610.2 1.38 13.8
CITHARINIDAE AND
DISTICHODONTIDAE
Citharinus citharus 33.13 184.37 - - - - - -
Distichodus rostratus 1.97 37.78 - - - - - -
Citharinus
0.37 7.50 - - - - - -
distichodoides
Paradistichodus
0.23 102.67 - - - - - -
dimidiatus
35.70 332.32 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
CHARACIDAE
Alestes macrolepidotus 6.19 201.26 - - - - - -
A. dentex 5.44 144.76 0.03 5.7 - - - -
A. baremoze 5.35 371.01 - - 0.12 20.3 2.35 372.4
A. leusiscus 2.49 431.48 0.04 1.1 0.54 273.5 0.19 96.6
A. nurse 2.15 111.26 3.2 91.2 0.01 13.6 0.10 6.9
Hydrocynus forskalii 2.01 7.89 4.8 22.8 - - - -
Alestes brevis 0.97 39.65 - - - - - -
Hydrocynus vittatus 0.02 0.25 - - - - - -
24.62 1307.56 8.1 120.8 0.67 307.4 2.64 475.9
CYPRINIDAE
Labeo senegalensis 8.96 279.91 2.9 3.4 2.19 461.0 0.70 48.3
L. coubie 2.99 32.60 0.3 12.5 0.75 128.8 0.01 6.9
L. pseudocoubie 0.50 8.69 - - 0.03 31.6 - -
Barbus spp. 0.27 212.52 13.9 2595.8 0.82 427.1 0.01 13.8
Labeo parvus 0.25 6.46 - - 0.40 38.4 - -
Barbus macrops 0.12 64.61 1.0 167.6 - - - -
Barilius (niloticus) sp. 0.01 0.29 1.3 36.5 - - - -
13.10 605.08 19.4 2815 4.19 1086.9 0.72 69.0
MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis batensoda 2.59 37.11 - - - - - -
S. gambiensis 1.30 33.70 - - 0.43 22.5 82.79 4103.5
S. nigrita 0.92 19.91 - - - - - -
S. membranaceus 0.42 18.69 - - - - - -
S. ocellifer 0.27 9.95 - - - - 1.24 151.7
S. eupterus 0.20 10.01 - - - - - -
S. budgetti 0.18 3.89 - - - - - -
S. filamentosus 0.15 26.47 - - - - - -
S. gobroni 0.03 0.31 - - - - - -
S. vermiculatus 0.01 0.37 - - - - - -
S. sorex 0.001 1.30 - - - - - -
6.07 161.71 0.0 0.0 0.43 22.5 84.03 4255.2
MALAPTERURIDAE
Malapterurus electricus 5.92 42.13 0.9 5.7 - - 2.55 96.6
CLARIDAE
Clarias anguillaris 3.49 35.98 - - 0.06 4.5 5.93 124.1
C. lazera 1.87 15.45 0.2 1.1 - - 1.17 13.8
5.36 31.43 0.2 1.1 0.06 4.5 7.10 137.9
MORMYRIDAE
Mormyrus rume 1.67 12.66 - - - - - -
Marcusenius
0.59 19.38 - - - - 0.14 6.9
senegalensis
Mormyrops deliciosus 0.42 11.35 - - - - 0.02 6.9
Marcusenius kainji 0.11 6.36 - - - - - -
Hippopotamyrus
0.11 14.88 - - - - - -
psittacus
Petrocephalus bovei 0.11 17.80 - - - - - -
Hyperopisus bebe 0.08 1.88 - - - - - -
Marcusenius
0.08 2.15 - - - - - -
cyprinoides
Mormyrus hasselquisti 0.05 0.92 - - - - - -
Petrocephalus bane 0.03 10.70 - - 1.38 449.7 27.46 7848.3
Hippopotamyrus pictus 0.02 1.33 - - - - - -
Pollimyrus isidori 0.01 0.61 - - - - - -
3.28 100.02 0.0 0.0 1.38 449.7 27.62 7862.1
 CENTROPOMIDAE
Lates niloticus 2.78 116.68 - - - - - -
SCHILBEIDAE
Schilbe mystus 0.24 18.60 3.1 123.1 0.03 4.5 5.93 669.0
Eutropius niloticus 0.14 8.66 - - - - - -
Physailia pellucida 0.02 13.50 - - - - 4.19 3013.8
0.40 40.76 3.1 123.1 0.03 4.5 10.12 3682.8
OTHERS
Polypterus senegalus 0.72 19.65 - - - - - -
Parachanna obscura 0.42 4.20 - - - - - -
Pellonula afzeliusi 0.36 412.12 - - - - - -
Mastacembelus
0.07 5.91 - - - - - -
leonnbergii
Hepsetus odoe 0.05 0.22 - - - - - -
Phago loricatus 0.03 0.77 - - - - - -
Protopterus annectens 0.03 1.37 - - - - - -
Ctenopoma kingsleyae 0.01 0.87 - - - - - -
Tetraodon fahaka 0.01 0.11 - - - - - -
Garra waterloti 0.01 0.70 - - - - - -
GRAND TOTAL 239.54 7030.38 124.7 5092.3 31.52 3708.3 141.02 16910.6

Seven out of the nine dominant species grew to reasonable sizes of 200 g and above in Kainji
Lake (Table 25). However, in spite of the relatively small sizes of Alestes nurse, Alestes
leuciscus and Barbus species, these species are of great economic importance in both Tiga and
Bakolori. These small fishes, together with juveniles of A. baremose, are fried whole and sold in
small heaps at relatively cheap prices to the local population. Some fishermen sun dry the excess
of these small fishes as a way of preservation. This is similar to the method used in processing
clupeids from Kainji Lake.

Species composition, abundance and succession in some African man-made lakes and their
application to Goronyo Reservoir

The species composition of a new reservoir results directly from colonization by species from the
inflowing rivers. However, because of the drastic changes in environmental conditions compared
with those of the original rivers, species dominance and succession change significantly with
time in man-made lakes.

A comparison of the dominant fish families in the River Niger before impoundment with those
of Kainji Lake one year after impoundment revealed a drastic decline in the population of
mormyrids and a dramatic increase in the population of citharinids. The mochokids, though still
second in terms of number, declined. A more elaborate comparison of family dominance in some
African rivers and subsequent successional changes in their respective man-made lakes (Petr,
1975) showed that in most cases, the dominant families in the river are replaced in the lake by
other families which were of lesser importance in the river. In Kainji Lake however, the
Citharinidae retained their dominant position during the first year of the lake's formation but
were later replaced by the Characidae, which dominated the catch for about 7 years, before the
emergence of the cichlids as the dominant family in the reservoir (Fig. 6).

Although the Cichlidae, (notably the tilapias) became dominant after some years in most African
reservoirs, they initially required between 2 and 7 years to become established. They were not
significant in either the commercial or experimental catches from Kainji Lake until 5 years after
the lake's formation. In Tiga and Volta Lakes, they became the dominant group only 2 years after
impoundment.

Species density and stocking rate in some man-made lakes and their implication for Goronyo
Reservoir

Available evidence from large African man-made lakes constructed across perennial rivers, and
smaller ones across seasonal rivers, indicates that the latter are characterized by a paucity of fish
families and species at lower densities. In Kainji, Tiga and Bakolori some years after the lake's
formation the following species were the most abundant within the dominant families:

Cichlidae: Sarotherodon galilaeus and S. niloticus

Cyprinidae: Labeo senegalensis, L. coubie and Barbus species
Bagridae: Chrysichthys auratus
Characidae: Alestes baremose, A. nurse and A. leuciscus

The Cichlidae and Cyprinidae are primary consumers feeding on algae and decayed organic
matter on the bottom of the lake. The Bagridae (Chrysichthys) and Characidae are secondary
consumers feeding on aquatic insect larvae, pupae and nymphs. The Alestes spp. are
opportunistic feeders with a range of food items including both animal and plant materials.

Apart from adapting to the available food in the lakes, the species also adapt to the lacustrine
environment for their breeding pattern. From the above observations it becomes pertinent that, if
a new man-made like such as Goronyo Reservoir, with a relatively low species density, is to be
stocked, the species should be selected from the dominant species listed above depending on the
availability of fingerlings. The selection of species for stocking should preferably follow the
order of dominance also listed, namely: Cichlidae (tilapias), Cyprinidae (labeos), Bagridae
(Chrysichthys) and Characidae (Alestes).

Table 24. Comparison of percentage density of fish families in Kainji, Tiga and Bakolori
reservoirs (7,2 and 3.5 years respectively after impoundment) and the Rima River before
impoundment.

Fish Family Kainji Tiga Bakolori Rima River

 No/ha % No/ha % No/ha % No/ha %
Cichlidae 2541.33 36.1 1605.1 31.5 1222.6 33.0 317.3 1.9
Bagridae 1305.44 18.6 420.7 8.3 610.2 16.5 13.8 0.1
Citharinidae 332.32 4.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Characidae 1307.56 18.6 120.8 2.4 307.4 8.3 475.9 2.8
Cyprinidae 605.08 8.6 2815.8 55.3 1086.9 29.3 69.0 0.4
Mochokidae 161.71 2.3 0.0 0.0 22.5 0.6 4255.2 25.2
Malapteruridae 42.13 0.6 5.7 0.1 0.0 0.0 96.6 0.6
Clariidae 31.43 0.5 1.1 0.0 4.5 0.1 137.9 0.8
Mormyridae 100.02 1.4 0.0 0.0 449.7 12.1 7862.1 46.5
Centropomidae 116.68 1.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Schilbeidae 40.76 0.6 123.1 2.4 4.5 0.1 3682.8 21.7
Others 445.92 6.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
TOTAL 7030.38 100.0 5092.3 100.0 3708.3 100.0 16910.6 100.0

NB. The percentage numbers of the four major dominant lacustrine fish families in each
lake are underlined.

Stocking of a new reservoir can be effected in two ways:

i. by collection of the required species from the wild in other bodies of water and
introducing them into the new reservoir,
ii. by natural and induced breeding of the required species in hatcheries, growing them in
nurseries to reasonable sizes for a couple of months and then transferring them to the new
reservoir.

Table 25. Dominant fish species in Kainji, Tiga and Bakolori reservoirs with their
respective maximum weights as observed in Kainji Reservoir.

Observed
Species maximum
weight (g)
1. Sarotherodon galilaeus 1500
2. Oreochromis niloticus 2000
3. Chrysichthys auratus 200
4. Alestes baremose 250
5. A. nurse 200
6. A. leuciscus 155
7. Labeo senegalensis 1500
 8. L. coubie 3000
9. Barbus species 15

Among the species listed, only Oreochromis and Sarotherodon (tilapias) have been intensively
studied with regards to natural breeding in confined habitats. Techniques have been developed in
Nigeria for induced breeding of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus and the common carp (Cyprinus
carpio) a cyprinid with similar feeding habits to Labeo. Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus has not been
very succesful in reservoirs even though it would be a better substitute for Chrysichthys auratus,
being much bigger and with a faster growth rate. The common carp has not yet been introduced
into any reservoir in Africa even though it has been found to be very successful in Asian
reservoirs (Bhukaswan, 1980).

Fish fingerling collection from the wild, although possible, is labout intensive and more
expensive to accomplish, but in the absence of hatchery produced fingerlings it is much
preferable to nothing if increased production of a new reservoir with low fish density is to be
accomplished.

Although stocking was recommended for Tiga Lake (Ita, 1979a) because no organisation was
made sufficiently responsible for its management, nothing was done until stocking was initiated
by the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research during the late eighties.

Stocking Density in Bakolori/Goronyo Reservoirs

Stocking density is important if the stocked species is expected to make an impact on the future
fisheries of the lake. Bhukaswan (1980) reported that some reservoirs in Thailand stocked at a
low density of about 1–8 fish per hectare did not contribute significantly to the total catches in
the lakes. It is important that stocking densities be estimated. The difference between potential
yield estimates and the observed density per hectare could serve as guidelines for determining
the stocking density. For example the potential yield of Bakolori Lake was estimated at 50 kg/ha
and the estimated density per hectare was 3,708 fish/ha. Assuming that the lake would be
exploited at one third of its estimated production of 150 kg/ha the stocking density at 150 kg/ha
could be extrapolated from Figure 7. which shows the relationship between ichthyomass and
density of fish sampled with rotenone at 21 stations in Kainji Lake. The density at 150 kg/ha
approximates to 5,000 fish/ha.
 Fig. 6. Percentage composition (by numbers in
families) of catches in gillnets at Kainji Lake
(1969–1977).

The observed density/ha during the survey period was 3,708 fish/ha showing a deficit of about
1,300 fish/ha. Depending on the species it is intended to stock, the deficit could be shared in
accordance with their observed percentage dominance in the natural habitat. Thus for instance if
only Sarotherodon is to be stocked the 1,300 fish could be shared between the two dominant
species of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus and S.galilaeus) in the ratio of 1.3: 1 or 1:0.8, based on
their relative percentage composition. A new ratio could be worked out if other species are to be
stocked.

In addition to estimates such as those above, the habitat of the stocked species should be taken
into consideration. In Kainji Lake, for instance, the tilapias are confined to the littoral zone down
to a depth of 7 metres. Bakolori reservoir with a mean depth of 6 metres, may not present any
problem for the tilapias but in deeper lakes the problem of overstocking could arise and the
surface area of that portion of the lake likely to favour the growth of tilapia should be estimated
under such circumstances. Pelagic species like Alestes and clupeids could be stocked in relation
to the total surface area of the reservoir. Bottom feeders could be stocked in relation to the total
surface area of the bottom having oxygen available during thermal stratification of the lake. For
instance, in Tiga Lake, it was observed that gillnets set below a depth of 15 metres caught no fish
on account of oxygen stratification. If Tiga Lake were to be stocked with a bottom feeder such as
the common carp, the depth of oxygenation should be taken into consideration.

Finally, it is relevant to state that, because of the relatively high cost of stocking a reservoir, it is
important to ensure that fishing is controlled in order to prevent over-exploitation of juveniles of
the introduced species. Minimum mesh size regulations should be enforced by the organisation
responsible for the management of the lake.

Fig. 7. Relationship between the ichthyomass and

density of fish sampled by rotenone in blocked
areas of Kainji Lake in 1976.