This study investigates the ichthyofaunal and types of crafts and gears used in Ajiwa Irrigation Dam, Katsina State for six (6) months. Ichthyofaunal and the fishing activities were determined using designed questionnaires, direct counting and measurement while the identifications of the species were done using monographs. From the results, eight species comprising four families [Schilbedae (4.44%); Mormyridae (1.17%); Cichlidae (74.34%) and Claridae (20.07%)] were identified. The diversity indices show varied population and no single species exhibited true supremacy. Gears (Gill nets, cast nets, hook and line, gourds) and crafts (canoes and flat boards) were used by the fishermen who came from six neighboring villages (Masabo; Kunduwaje; Gajerar giwa; Kadaji; Mallamawa and Kanya). Family Cichlidae comprising Coptodon zilli (24.00%), Oreochromis niloticus (27.60%) and Sarotherodon galilaeus (22.74%) made up the highest percentage of the composition accounting for 74.34 % occurring all through the sampling periods while Family Mormyridae (Marcusenius branchystius, 0.50%; Mormyrus rume, 0.67%) with the least representation accounts for just 1.17%, appearing just once throughout. Wooden canoes, cast nets and gourds were generally and commonly in use by the fisher men. The Kadaji village has the highest percentage of fishermen (33.7%) with predominate age group between 40 – 49 years. This study shows a lesser species variety compared to past researches with three families gone into extinction. To ensure that the Ichthyofauna is not depleted, there is need to enforce the use of the right mesh sizes of nets and to harvest only table size fishes as most landed catches were juveniles.
Key words: Abundance, Ajiwa irrigation dam, biodiversity, canoes, gourds
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