Fisheries and Aquaculture Journal

Fisheries and Aquaculture Journal
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Research Article - (2017) Volume 8, Issue 2

Effects of Seasonal Variation on Fish Catching in Jebel Aulia Reservoir on the White Nile, Sudan

Ahmed Mohammed Musa Ahmed*
Department of Fish Sciences, Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan
*Corresponding Author: Ahmed Mohammed Musa Ahmed, Assistant Professor of Fish Science, Department of Fish Sciences, Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan, Tel: +249 0129427898 Email:

Abstract

This study was conducted to see the effects of seasons on fish production, in Jebel aulia dam south of Khartoum 45 km during the period January to December 2014, (containing 12 months) includes three seasons, summer, autumn and winter. 23 species belonging to 14 families were recorded during the period of investigation. Distribution production of fish in seasons as follow: in summer the high production is Tilapia in March 61.2%, April 53.3%, May 40%, finally June 32%. Bagrus bayad in March 9.9%, April 5.6%, May 12.6%, finally 4.9% in June. The fish which is rare is Disticodus niloticus and Citharinus citharus. High production months in the summer are June 36%, April 23%, March 21% and May 21%. In autumn the fish species which very high production is tilapia in July 25.9%, August 31.6%, September 33.5% and October 9.9% followed by Schall fish and Labeo niloticus. In winter the study found the high production of species is Tilapia, labeo niloticus and Hydrocon Forskalli. The months which is high production in winter containing November, December, February and January. The study showed that the fish production seasons are summer 37.15%, autumn 35.95% and finally winter 26.90%.

Keywords: Jebel Aulia Dam; Reservoir; Seasons; Fish species; Investigation production; Variation

Introduction

Jebel Aulia Dam was constructed in 1937 across the White Nile some 45 kilometres south of Khartoum. It resulted in the formation of larger shallow lake and covered estimated area of about 12,000 hectares. The Dam stores about 3.5 Millard cubic meters of water. Maximum depth of the reservoir is about 15 meters during the time of high flood (late August to mid-September) while a minimum depth of 5 meters is attained in May, when the reservoir is nearly emptied to a normal river level. Fish and fisheries of White Nile have been investigated by several workers. The taxonomy and characteristic of fish were compiled by Boulenger [1] in his treaties or fish fauna of the Nile. Girgis [2] recorded 18 families and 62 species from the swamps and the southern tributaries of the White Nile. The feeding and breeding habits of some common Nile fish were studied by Pekkola [3] and his investigations were further extended by Sandon [4]. Sandon [5] investigated the fishes of northern Bahr Elgazal and stated that fishing follows the seasonal regime of flooding and fallowing water. One hundred and eight species were recorded by Sandon [6] from the Sudan waters of the White Nile system. They belonged to 51 genera and 23 families. More recently [7] reported that the fish fauna of the Nile basin is rich and diversified and includes at least 54 genera and well over 300 species. Gidiri [8] carried out a detailed study on the biology of genus Synodontis at Khartoum which its establishment of Synodontis khartoumensis as a new species. The present paper however is an attempt to consider the distribution and abundance of fish of the White Nile in the area affected by Jebel Aulia Dam.

Materials and Methods

The area investigated was Jebel Aulia Dam two sets of gill nets were used to catch the fish the first set with mesh size ranging between 40 mm-120 mm and 1.5 meters-2 meters in depth. The second set of gill nets had a mesh size ranging from 70 mm-90 mm and 1.55 meters-1.80 meters in depth. Gill nets were set overnight. The catch was sorted out immediately after collection and fish identified down to species level. Total weight of fish was recorded in kilogram (kg). The period of study was (January-December 2014).

Results

Fish population in the study area obtained 23 species belonging to 14 families were recorded during the period of investigation. These are listed as follows in Table 1. In summer Tilapia fish , and Bagrus bayad is high production in month March, April, May and June. The rare fish were Disticodus niloticus and Citharinus citharus in Table 2. High production of months in summer is June 36% (Table 3).

Family (14) Species (23)
(1) Mormyridae 1-Mormyrus caschive
  2-Mormyrus bebe
  3-Mormyrus cyprinoids
(2) Mochokidae 1-Synodontis schall
(3) Bagridae 1-Bagrus bayad
  2-Bagrus domac
  3-chrysichthys auratus
  4-Auchenoglanis occidentals
(4) characidae 1-Alestes dentex
  2-Hydrocynus forskalli
  3-Alestes nurse
(5) Citharinidae 1-Disticodus niloticus
(6) Schilbeidae 1-Schilbe mystus
(7) Cyprinidae 1-labeo niloticus
  2-Labeo horii
  3-Barbus bynii
(8) Cichlidae 1-Oreochromis niloticus
(9) Clariidae 1-Clarias lazera
(10) Protopteridae 1-Protopterus aethiopicus
(11) Centropomidae 1-Lates niloticus
(12) Tetraodontidae 1-Tetraodon lineatus
(13)Malapteroidae Malapteroidae 1-Malapterurus electricus
(14) Osteoglossidae 1-Heterotis niloticus

Table 1: Showed the families and species of the study.

Species March April May June
  % Wt.(kg) % Wt.(kg) % Wt.(kg) % Wt.(kg)
Lates niloticus 0.7 385.28 1.2 677.57 1.6 868 1.1 961
Bagrus domac 0.2 93 0.3 150.57 0.1 48.71 0.3 318.86
Bagrus bayad 9.9 5194.71 5.6 3255 12.6 6642.86 4.9 4455.14
Tilabia niloticus 61.2 32200.14 53.3 31093 40 21040.1 32 29255.1
Labeo niloticas 7.6 4003.43 18.8 10978.4 17.1 9007.71 18 16443.3
Barbus bynni 0.1 75.26 0.4 252.43 0.5 279 0.9 828.4
Labeo horii 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kanumm sp 0.2 93 0.4 212.57 1.5 788.29 0.4 366.57
Distichodus niloticus 0 0 0 0 0.1 75.29 0.1 53.14
Cithrius cithrius 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Synodontis schall 2.1 1098.29 2.2 1266.57 2.9 1501.29 23.1 21124.3
Alestes dentex 2.4 1240 2.2 1266.57 2.5 1302 1.5 1377.29
Clarias lazera 5.5 2896.28 7.6 4424.14 8.7 4561.43 5.3 4867
Hydrocon Forskalli 2.3 1217.85 1.8 1049.57 4.4 2338.29 1.8 1603.14
Shelbe mystes 0.5 261.28 0.5 314.43 1.5 766.14 0.8 744
Other 7.3 3835.14 5.7 3343.57 6.5 3432.14 10 9114
Total 100 52593.66 100 58284.39 100 52651.25 100 91511.24

Table 2: showed fish production in months of summer 2014.

Months of summer Production(kg) %Percentage
March 52594 21%
April 58284 23%
May 52651 21%
June 91511 36%
Total 254740 100%

Table 3: showed months of summer and production (kg).

In autumn also tilapia and Labeo niloticus is high production (Table 4). Months of autumn which is high are July, October, August and September, in Winter also Tilapia, Labeo niloticus and Hydrocon Forskalli is high production but the fish was very rarely is Bynii, Citharus, Disticodus and Labeo horii (Tables 5 and 6).

Species July August September October
  % Wt.(kg) % Wt.(kg) % Wt.(kg) % Wt.(kg)
Lates niloticus 1.6 1169.11 1.1 635.71 1.5 827.14 0.1 681.43
Bagrus domac 0.2 172.71 0.5 270 0.4 205 0.1 381.43
Bagrus bayad 5.6 4034.72 3.5 2044.29 5.9 3325.71 1.2 6930
Tilabia.niloticus 25.9 18639.9 31.6 18475.71 33.5 18831.43 9.9 59258.57
Labeo niloticas 19 13666.6 15.3 8961.43 13.9 7787.14 2.9 17288.57
Barbus bynii 0.1 66.43 0 7.57 0 0 0 0
Labeo horii 0 0 0 12.86 0 0 0.1 488.57
Kannume sp 0.8 571.29 0.4 244.29 0.3 180 0 0
Disticodus niloticus 0.1 97.43 0 0 0.1 30 0 0
Cithrius cithrius 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.9 11472.86
Synodontis schal 25.3 18205.9 22.1 12882.86 15 8400 0.2 1015.71
Alestes dentex 1.1 819.29 15.6 9092.8 1.2 668.57 1.3 7920
Clarias lazera 6.2 4464 4.3 2502.86 7.6 4285.71 0.2 1345.71
Hydrocon Forskalli 1.6 1169.14 1.7 1002.86 1.4 801.43 0.1 660
Shelbe mystes 0.9 624.43 1.5 890.71 1.4 775.71 9.3 55774.29
Other 11.6 8356.71 2.4 1398 17.9 10050 72.7 435623
Total 100 72057.66 100 58421.95 100 56167.84 100 59884.14

Table 4: Showed the fish production in months of autumn 2014.

Months of autumn Production(kg) %Percentage
June 72058 29.20%
August 58422 23.70%
September 56188 22.80%
October 59884 24.30%
Total 246532 100%

Table 5: Showed months of autumn and production kg.

Species November December January February
  % Wt.(kg) % Wt.(kg) % Wt.(kg) % Wt.(kg)
Lates niloticus 1 801.43 0.2 681.43 2.2 540.14 2.9 1085
Bagrus domac 1 827.14 9.9 38143 2.1 513.71 1.3 496.71
Bagrus bayad 5 4165.71 1.8 6930 6 1483.57 8.1 3038
Tilabia niloticus 39.9 33407.14 15.4 59258.57 61.3 15256.43 58.5 21908.14
Labeo niloticas 18.9 15810 4.5 17288.57 5.5 1377.29 6.2 2329.43
Barbus bynii 0 0 0 0 1.4 354.29 1.1 403
Labeo horii 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kanumm sp 0.5 420 12.7 48857 0.3 84.14 0.6 234.71
Distichodus niloticus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cithrius cithrius 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Synodontis schall 3.3 2790 3 11472.8 4 987.57 1.8 669.43
Alestes dentex 1.6 1307.14 0.3 1015.71 3 752.86 3.2 1204.5
Clarias lazera 5.1 4264.29 2.5 9720 2.2 552.71 5.3 1970.71
Hydrocon Forskalli 11.1 9272.86 35 134571 4.6 1155.86 3.1 1160.29
Shelbe mystes 0.7 604.29 0.2 660 2.1 513.17 1.1 394.14
Other 11.9 9972.86 14.5 55774.29 5.3 1324.14 6.9 2568.57
Total 100 83642.9 100 38437.24 100 24895.9 100 37462.6

Table 6: Showed fish production in months of winter 2014.

High months in production in winter is November, December and February the study show the high season in production is summer 37.15%, autumn 35.95% and winter 26.90% (Tables 7 and 8). The boats were made of woods, metal, and fiberglass. Gill net and cast net are very famous nets in the Reservoirs. The boats made of locally woods (Table 9).

Months of winter Production (kg) %Percentage
November 83643 45.40%
December 38437 20.80%
January 24896 13.50%
February 37463 20.30%
Total 184439 100%

Table 7: Showed months of winter and production kg.

Seasons Fish production %Percentage
Summer 254.741 37.15%
Autumn 246.532 35.95%
Winter 184.439 26.90%
total 685.712 100%

Table 8: show seasons variation and fish production 2014.

Boat kinds Nets kinds Woods kinds
Wood boat Gill net haraz
Metal boat Cast net sonut
sharoug crabs neem
flouka   mahogani
Fiber glass   sayal

Table 9: show the boat, net and kind of wood in fish catching.

Discussion

The study showed that high production was recorded in summer season 37.145%, autumn 35.95% and finally winter 26.95%. 23 species and 14 families were found in the study. The important species in this study were Oreochromis niloticus, Labeo niloticus and Synodontis schall. The rare fish in the dam were Disticodus niloticus, Labeo niloticus and Citharinus citharus. The present study agrees [9] had found 14 families and 21 species. The study agrees [10] that the boats in Jebel aulia were made from woods, metal, shroug and fiberglass. Otherwise the local names of the nets were gill nets and caste net. The kinds of wood by local name are Haraz, Sonut, Neem and Sayal.

Girgis [2] recorded 18 families and 62 species from the swamps and the southern tributaries of the White Nile but in this study found 14 families only. 108 species were recorded by Sandon [6] from the Sudan waters of the White Nile system. They belonged to 51 genera and 23 families but in this study 14 families may be return to periods between the two studies. More recently [7] reported that the fish fauna of the Nile basin is rich and diversified and includes at least 54 genera and well over 300 species [8].

1967 studied all fishes in Sudan but this study is included only Jebel aulia dam (Figure 1).

fisheries-and-aquaculture-journal-aulia-dam

Figure 1: Show the Jebel aulia dam (location study).

Acknowledgement

We express deep sense of gratitude to the head of department of fish sciences, the technical support of Mr. Elnuman Babikir.

References

  1. Boulenger GA (1907) Zoology of Egypt. The fished of the Nile Hugh ross Ltd, London.
  2. Girgis S (1948) A list of Common fish from the Upper Nile with their shilluk, Dinka and Nuer names. Sudan Notes and Records pp: 120-125.
  3. Pekkola W (1919) Notes on habits, breeding and food of some white Nile fish. Sudan Notes and Records pp: 112-121
  4. Sandon E (1953) Problems of fisheries. Sudan Notes and Records 32: 5-36.
  5. Sandon H, Tayib AA (1953) The food of some common Nile fish, Sudan Notes and Records pp: 205-229.
  6. Sandon E (1950) An illustrated guide to the freshwater fishes of the Sudan. Sudan Notes and Records, Khartoum.
  7. Hammerton D (1972) The Nile River-Symposium on river ecology and the impact of man. Hydrobiol Res unit Khartoum.
  8. Gidiri BA (1967) Fishes of the Blue Nile between Khartoum and Roseires. Rev Zool Bot Afri 3-4.
  9. Ahmed J (2010) Distribution of the fish in Jebel Aulia dam reservoir on White Nile.
  10. Mohammed OM (2012) A short Review on: fishing boat used in Sudan freshwater fisheries. Bull Environ Pharmacol Life Sci 1: 93-99.
Citation: Ahmed AMM (2017) Effects of Seasonal Variation on Fish Catching in Jebel Aulia Reservoir on the White Nile, Sudan. Fish Aqua J 8:202.

Copyright: © 2017 Ahmed AMM. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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