Fishery and the Tourism Potential of Agbokum Waterfalls, Nigeria

Abstract

Species richness and human activities in natural environments are among the most important recreational needs. Monthly studies of aquatic fauna, artisanal fisheries and tourism characteristics was conducted during wet and dry seasons, over a two year period in the three landscapes along the 6817.7 m length of Agbokum waterfalls by using a close-ended pre-coded survey instrument. Through MANOVA analysis of the 1780 respondents we found strong positive association between peoples visits to the recreational areas and the type of landscape in which the respondents felt happy. People who felt happier in landscape dominated by waterfalls, visit the middle reaches of the river for outdoor recreation more often while people who feel happy in landscapes dominated by slow water current with an extensive wide area and floodplains, visit downstream reaches of the waterfalls more often. Activities performed more often along downstream reaches include fishing, bathing/swimming, boating and hunting while more frequent activities in the middle reaches (waterfalls) include taking photographs, picnics, enjoying nature, outing with family and friends, looking at view, resting and relaxing. A total of 5484 fish representing 22 species belonging to 16 genera from 9 families were sampled with 10 species being restricted to wet season and only 1 in the dry. The number of taxa and individuals present at upstream, midstream and downstream reaches were 16 (2003), 13 (1034), 17 (2447), respectively. <i>Tilapia zillii</i>, <i>Clarias gariepinus</i> and <i>Labeo coubie</i> dominated overall catch constituting 35.5%. Twenty five operational boats counted during the period of study, were only used downstream by 25 full-time fishermen, 87 part-time, 44 shoreline fishermen and 36 assistant fishermen. Common gears were the hook and line constituting 45.8%, cast and dip net (10.1%) bailing (8.7%), gill nets (7.3%), seine net (6.4%) Traps (5.5%), lift net (4.7%) Dip nets (0.9%), poisoning (2.8%), cutlass (3.3%) and spear (1%). Seasonally occurring aquatic fauna include crustaceans (<i>Atya gaboneensis</i> and <i>Palaemon paucidens</i>) (23.5%) oysters (<i>Etheria elliptica</i>) (15.4%), clams (<i>Galacea paradoxa</i>) (20.8%), Manatee (<i>Trichechus senegalensis</i>) (2.5), <i>Hippopotamus amphibious</i> (1.8%), Otter (<i>Lutra macullicolis</i>) (0.5%), Crocodyles (<i>Crocodylus niloticus</i>, <i>Crocodylus cataphractus</i> (Aligata) and <i>Osteolaemus tetraspsis</i>) (18.8%). The nile monitor (<i>Varanus nilaticus</i>), aquatic snake (<i>Anoscopus sp</i>), and three species of water turtle (<i>Kimxys erosa</i>, <i>Pelumedusa sp</i> and <i>Peliosus sp</i>) (21.6%). Relatively higher faunal densities and species richness in the upstream and downstream reaches coupled with waterfalls in middle reaches can makes Agbokum waterfalls a touris...

Growth of freshwater Etheria elliptica oyster (Lamarck, 1807) reared in cages in the Pendjari River (Benin, West Africa)

“…Etheria elliptica belongs to the order Unionoida also known as freshwater mussels (Graf and Cummings, 2006). In West Africa, it is widely harvested as a source of protein and income in many local fisheries (Ampofo-Yeboah et al, 2009;Ikpi and Offem, 2012) and has been overexploited (Poda, 1992;Akélé et al, 2015). Surprisingly, unlike other economically important bivalves, little research has been conducted on the biology, growth performance and culture potential of this bivalve.…”

Traditional exploitation of edible freshwater oyster <i>Etheria elliptica</i> (Lamarck, 1807) in Pendjari River (Benin-West Africa): assessment of income, human pressure and options for management

“…In the tropics, oysters are found in rivers and coastal areas and supported many small artisanal fisheries (Haupt et al, 2010;Van Damme, 2011;Ikpi and Offem, 2012). Wild oysters are commonly harvested by local residents especially women as main traditional activity.…”

“…Wild oysters are commonly harvested by local residents especially women as main traditional activity. Oyster exploitation provides protein and improves income of local communities (Bogan, 2008;Haupt et al, 2010;Ikpi and Offem, 2012). However, small artisanal fisheries, especially in Africa, were considerably unregulated and were declining due to overexploitation (de Bruyn et al, 2009;Haupt et al, 2010).…”

Population dynamics of freshwater oysterEtheria elliptica(Bivalvia: Etheriidae) in the Pendjari River (Benin-Western Africa)

“…The bivalve is of great economic importance for the local people and has been exploited in many artisanal fisheries across Africa for food and income over the years (Ampofo-yeboah et al, 2009;Van Damme, 2011;Ikpi and Offem, 2012). In West Africa, oyster exploitation was reported in many fisheries in Nigeria (Abowei and Hart, 2008;Ikpi and Offem, 2012), in the Volta River in Ghana (Ampofo-yeboah et al, 2009) and in the Pendjari River in Benin (Kiansi, 2011). Surprisingly, no data were reported on the population dynamics of the species probably facing heavy exploitation owing to steadily increasing fishing pressure (Heck et al, 2007).…”

“…E. elliptica is the only freshwater oyster encountered in African waters (Graf and Cummings, 2006). The bivalve is of great economic importance for the local people and has been exploited in many artisanal fisheries across Africa for food and income over the years (Ampofo-yeboah et al, 2009;Van Damme, 2011;Ikpi and Offem, 2012). In West Africa, oyster exploitation was reported in many fisheries in Nigeria (Abowei and Hart, 2008;Ikpi and Offem, 2012), in the Volta River in Ghana (Ampofo-yeboah et al, 2009) and in the Pendjari River in Benin (Kiansi, 2011).…”