AN INVESTIGATION OF “IKEN” BRUSH PARK FISH AGGREGATING DEVICE IN IWOPIN LAGOON, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

A biological investigation was carried out on “Iken” brush park fishing practice in Iwopin lagoon, Ogun State. Nigeria. The practice was found to offer a fish yield of 0.48 tonne/ha/fishing in which Sarotherodon melanotheron dominated the fishery (33.4%). Ecologically, the practice was found to increase the productivity of the biotope. Indication from length-weight relationship showed that the ponderal index of the fish, b, ranged between 2.432 and 3.217 in Synodontis sp and Tilapia zili with a mean  value of 2.973±0.059. This was not significantly different from 3 (p>0.05) implying that the growth was isometric. Meanwhile, only 39.1% of the sizeable fish aggregated by the device were targeted by the fishermen. This showed that “Iken” brush park offered a selective fishing.