A frame survey of fishing communities was carried out, employing the complete census technique,
to assess the artisanal fisheries characteristics of the fresh water reaches of lower nun river for a period of two year,
Eleven Community lie along the stretch of the study area. The total number of 4718 fishers with 1645 canoe units
employing various fishing gear resulted to a fishers density of 3 fishers per canoe unit. A total of 29 fin fish families
were recorded. Seasonally occurring fresh water crustacean.
Attaya gaboneensis
and
palacemon paucidens
were
present.
Etheria elliptica
, an oyster was also present. A specie of fresh water clam,
Galacea Paradoxa
from the
family Donacidae was present.
Trichechus senegelensis
(Manattee) was occasionally captured by local hunter during
the flood period.
Hippopotamus amphibious
(Hippopotamus) was reported from isolated places but they were rare. A
specie of Otta,
Lutra macullicolis
was present. Three species of crocodiles,
Crococdylus niloticus
Crocodylus
cataphractus
(Alligator) and
Osteolaemus tetraspsis
were also present. The Nile monitor, Veramus niloticus and the
aquatic snake, Anoscopus sp. And three species of water turtle,
Kimxy erosa
,
Pelumedusa
sp and
Peliosus
sp were
also present. The commonest fishing method employed was local fishponds (50.8%) and the least was gill nets
(1.6%). Drift net caught the highest fish (8.01kg) per gear, while local fishponds was the least 0.25 kg. The annual
catch per canoe was recorded for local fishponds (167. 84kg), while the lowest was assorted traps (14.7kg). Drift not
recorded the highest annual for local fishponds. The mean biomass of 25.04 of fish catch of 20.2kg per fisher and the
lowest value (4.53kg) was recorded per boat, total catch of 37903. 6kg, annual producing estimate of 434.81 tonnes,
standing struck of 2.27 km
-2 and of twenty two million, seven hundred and forty two thousand one hundred and sixty
naira (N22742160) was estimated. The reduced annual income per fisher in the study was four thousand, eight
hundred and twenty naira, thirty kobo. There is therefore the, urgent need for effective management of the Nun river
fisheries, to improve on the living standard of the people.