The Climate Change Challenge and the Ornamental Fish Stocks of the Upper New Calabar River, Niger Delta Area of Nigeria

As the world braces up for the continuous threats of Climate change related floods, a review of the possible influence of the global challenges of Climate change related floods on  the  composition, diversity and abundance of Ornamental fish fauna of the Upper New Calabar River , a tributary of the Niger Delta Basin (Ibim and Gogo, 2013) was undertaken. This work was aimed at creating urgent awareness towards the status of the Ornamental fish stocks of the New Calabar River, the possible effect of floods on these fishes, and the need to protect and conserve them.  A review of a fifteen –week study on the composition, diversity and abundance of Ornamental fish fauna of the Upper New Calabar River (Ibim and Gogo, 2013), revealed a total catch of 30,055 fishes, having a composition of forty one (41) ornamental fish species belonging to thirty five (35) genera and twenty five (25) families. However, species abundance/score varied amongst the families with a few species high (Hemichromis fasciatus – 20.16%- dominant), but most being very low (Gnathonemus petersii (2.82%  and Aethiomastacembelus nigromarginatus (0.07%) rare). Also, the species diversity was low among all the families except the Cichlids that had nine species.  Also, a review on the effect of global Climate change related floods on fish populations, revealed  a variety of threat situations including,  habitat salinity and ionic content distortion, habitat destruction, introduction of new species, migration of endemic species, fish seed loss, death and even extinction .From this it could be inferred that any such natural disaster in the Upper New Calabar River will have terrible consequences. A review of recommendations were made to stakeholders on how best to mitigate/adapt to the threats of Climate change related floods, to reduce the possible deleterious effects of the impending floods on the already declining ornamental fish stocks of the Upper New Calabar River of the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria. Keywords: Climate change related floods, Upper New Calabar River, Niger Delta Area, Nigeria, Ornamental fish Stock

The Pelvicachromis pulcher: A Local Aquarium Species

A review was carried out on the Pelvicachromis pulcher, a local Aquarium fish that possesses a great ornamental value. The review aimed at eliciting interest in the culture of the species, as an additional aquarium fish for the development of the Ornamental fisheries industry in Nigeria. The study revealed that the Pelvicachromis pulcher, is widely distributed in southern Nigeria, western Cameroon and eastern Benin. They are a dwarf freshwater teleost fish, with males attaining a maximum length of approximately 12.5cm (4.9 in) and a maximum weight of 9.5g (0.34 oz), while the females are smaller and deeper bodied, with a maximum length of 8.1 cm (3.2 in) and a maximum weight of 9.4 g (0.33 oz). Their beautiful coloration makes them important ornamental fishes. Both sexes have a dark longitudinal stripe that runs from the caudal fin to the mouth and pink to red abdomens, the intensity of which changes during courtship and breeding. Their environmental requirements is 24-260C temperature, acidic to neutral (pH 5.6 – 6.2, and soft water (12 – 22 mg/l – 1CaCO3).They are secretive cave spawners, and exhibit vigorous parental care, but easily breed in captivity. They are omnivorous, and so easily manageable. However, its availability in the market is limited. This is as a result of certain constraints such as the absence of its Aquaculture, as very little is known about it and its economic importance where it occurs naturally, collection of fish from the wild for stocking tanks which is associated with risks in their area of occurrence.Keywords: Fish Culture, Nigerian Red, Ornamental fisheries, Pelvicachromis pulche

Adaptive Mechanisms of Rural Fishermen Towards Climate Change On Quantity of Fish Caught in Asari-toru Local Government Area of Rivers State Nigeria.

This study investigated the adaptive mechanisms of rural fishermen towards climate change on quantity of fish caught in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. A purposive random sampling techniques was employed in selecting 80 (eighty) respondents in the study area. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and net farm profit analysis. The results showed that majority (96%)of the respondents are male and their mean age ranged between 36-40years with a percentage of 27.6% while 3.5% had fishing experience ranging from 21-25years. Respondents employed building of sea walls, diversification to off-farm activities and restoration of mangroves as means of adapting to climate change. These mechanism employed improved their productivity and profitability with a net profit of N500, 455.1. The major problem encountered (14.9%) was high cost of fishing materials. An integrated approach in problem solving through knowledge of the existing adaptive mechanisms with adequate participation of the people is recommended. Keywords: Adaptive Mechanism, Climate Change, Rural Fishermen, Fishing, Socio-economic Characteristics

Women and sustainable fisheries exploitation: A review

Sustainability in the extraction of fishery resource need to be proactively upheld if the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be anything to go by in Nigeria and other developing countries. The fishery resource, of the biotic component of the environment, and the main focus of this paper, is renewable resource whose existence if not for adverse environmental factors and natural speciation that occurs over thousands of years, is a continuum. The biological attributes of these fauna and flora render them amenable to usage in manners that still allows their continuous existence for the profit of mankind. Ignorance and the consequent inappropriate harvesting methods and uses of the fishery resource make them prone to abuse, imperilment, and eventual extinction. The influential and important roles of women as fishers, fishmongers, processors, concerned citizens of healthy living and organizers of the end use of the fishery resource put women in a vantage position to influence; thereby, enforcing conservation and sustainability in the extraction of the resource when trained in natural resource management. Consequently, women need to be trained and equipped with knowledge such as basic principles in these areas: biological attributes of the aquatic resources, measures of aquatic resource management, and approaches such as co-management, , community-based and ecosystem-based approaches to fishery management; including simplified principles embedded within international instruments that form the legal frame work for resource management

Status of the fin fish fauna of the upper Sombreiro River, Abua/Odual Local Govt. Area, Rivers State, Nigeria

A twenty two weeks prelimnary study was carried out to assess the Status of the Upper Reaches of the Sombreiro River, one of the most important rivers in River state. A field survey was carried out in three sampling points in the Abua/Odual Local Govt. Area where fish samples were collected from the fishers and the Composition and Abundance assessed over the period using standard methods. Generally, the fish composition comprised of thirty seven (37) species in twenty (20) families from forty two thousand one hundred and twenty seven (42,127) individuals. However, through there was a weekly variation in composition following the seasons of the study from the dry season (weeks 1 – 14, Jan. to April) to the wet season (weeks 15 – 22, May to June). Some species were in the catch mainly in the rainy season (H. fasciatus) while others in the dry season (G. decadactylus, I. africana, L. dentatus) and some available through the period (O. mossambicus, T. zilli, and other Cichlid. The weekly composition showed a seasonal variation with two peaks in the wet season but a higher peak in composition in the late wet season. The relative abundance showed that S. maderensis had the highest percentage (57.17%) abundance followed by T. zilli with 5.83% , L. grandisquamis and L. falcipinnis with 3.25% and 3.57% respectively. The least abundant in descending order were, H. niloticus, and T. senegalensis (0.07% each), P. senegalensis (0.03%) and E. senegalensis (0.01%). Also, the weekly abundance of fish species revealed a seasonal variation in the abundance. Week 16 with 8.92% had the highest relative abundance but there was another peak at week 2. Week 7 (0.17%) had the least. These findings of greater composition and abundance in the dry season than the wet season were consistent with other works in the Niger Delta Area (Chindah (1994), Chindah and Osuamkpe (1997), Allison et al (1997), Ogamba (1998), Sikoki et al (1999), Nweke (2000), Ezekiel et al.(2002), Davis (2009), Onwuteaka (2015), Ibim and Owhonda(2017), Ibim and Bongilli (In press) . They reported salinity in the river and the presence/absence of food organisms were the main reasons. However, fishing pressure may be a major issue affecting the high number of rare fish species as they are well appreciated and attract good prices in the local markets. Inter/intra specific competition is another factor. This study therefore serves as baseline for a greater Research Survey and Bio-Monitoring for further assessment of the Fish and Fisheries, including the Ecosystem for documentation and proper management/conservation of the fish and fisheriess in the Upper Reaches of the Sombreiro River in Rivers state

Women and sustainable fisheries exploitation

Sustainability in the extraction of fishery resource need to be proactively upheld if the achichment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be anything to go by in Nigeria and other developing countries. The fishery resource, of the biotic component of the environment, and the main focus of this paper, is renewable resource whose existence if not for adverse environmental factors and natural specialization that occurs over thousands of years, is a continuum. The biological attributes of these fauna and flora render them amenable to usage in manners that still allows their continuous existence for the profit of mankind. Ignorance and the consequent inappropriate harvesting methods and uses of the fishery resource make them prone to abuse, imperilment, and eventual extinction. The influential and important roles of women as fishers, fishmongers. processors, concerned citizens of healthy living and organizers of the end use of the fishery resource put women in a vantage position to influence; thereby, enforcing conservation and sustainability in the extraction of the resource when trained in natural resource management. Consequently, women need to be trained and equipped with knowledge such as basic principles in these areas: biological attributes of the aquatic resources, measures of aquatic resource management, and approaches such as co-management, , communitybased and ecosystem-based approaches to fishery management; including simplified principles embedded within international instruments that form the legal frame work for resource management

The Free South Africa Movement and United States policy in South Africa: an analysis of the effect of domestic pressure on foreign policy behaviour

The focus of this study is the triumph of the Free South Africa Movement (FSAM) over the Reagan administration’s Southern Africa policy - “constructive engagement”. The central question this study provides answers to is: why is it that within two years of its inception, FSAM achieved what had eluded other Afro-American organisations for decades by bringing pressure to bear on an incumbent administration to reverse itself on a major foreign policy germane to Africa. Afro-Americans had shown both a continuing interest in Africa since the era of slavery and a desire to influence the direction of Africa policy of successive administrations. FSAM is therefore an important movement worth studying in view of its uniqueness in being the first anti-apartheid organisation through which Afro-Americans had achieved what had always eluded them.This necessitated putting FSAM in its historical context with a view to establishing in what sense and ways this movement succeeded while others failed. It was this that led us to identify four determinants of Afro-American influence. These were the Cold War, Afro-American electoral significance or otherwise, the organisational tactics of Afro-Americans in running anti­apartheid campaigns, and events in South Africa. These four determinants produced three scenarios which accounted for at best non-durable influence, and at worst - which was quite often the case - failures on the part of Afro-Americans to influence the direction of Africa policy of successive administrations.FSAM succeeded where others failed because it had learned from the mistakes of its predecessors and pursued a single issue by confining its attention to a single country - South Africa - which it rightly recognised as the sole beneficiary of the administration’s “constructive engagement”. It predecessors were always pursuing multifarious causes covering the entire African continent or at least a region. FSAM also had a united Afro-American community unprepared to put up with four more years of “constructive engagement”. This coupled with the fact that it was an era in which Afro-Americans were conscious of their potential electoral strength within the Democratic Party and in a balance of power situation, meant that FSAM was better placed to reap the wealth of experience emanating from previous numerous failed attempts.Although TransAfrica, around which FSAM was woven, provided the organisational and institutional structure, it was FSAM’s ability to carry the public along as a tactical device that made all the difference because the pressure which the public brought to bear on the administration to change its Southern Africa policy made it impossible for Congressmen as the representatives of the people to become passive spectators. The result was initiation of a Congressional response to the yearning of the people thereby isolating the President and his “constructive engagement”

The complementary roles of capture and culture fisheries in sustainable fisheries resource use

The pari parsu development and good management of both capture and culture fisheries if proactively practised especially in coastal and marine ecosystems would, to a large extent ensure sustainability in the usage of the fisheries resource, and conservation of biodiversity. While by-catch, discards and less desirable fish can continue to be useful inputs in aquaculture, the practice of environmentally sustainable aquaculture on the other hand would lead, not only to the reduction in pressure on the wild fish stock , but also become a source of socio-economic and technological development. The risk of weakened and reduced genetic diversity in aquaculture is being offset by enrichment of genetic pool from the wild fish population. In this review, the losses and gains of capture fisheries have been highlighted in addition to the gains and negative impacts of aquaculture. The success of capture-Based Aquaculture (CBA), enhanced fisheries, restocking and intentional introduction of fish species are all based on either branch of fisheries (capture and culture fisheries). The complementary roles both capture and culture fisheries can play to ensure optimal environmental usage and profitable use of the fisheries resource have been discussed. The strengths and weaknesses of both capture and culture fisheries can be wisely tapped for the development of both aspects of fisheries

Quality Control Compliance as an Environmental Response to Sustainability in the Nigerian Construction Industry

The concept of sustainability has become integral to the environmental dialect within the building construction industry. At present, providing an avenue by which the construction industry can meet its sustainability obligations has remained a topical issue globally. An environmentally oriented movement toward sustainability in building construction, however, still hinges on the traditional principles of cost, quality, and performance. This paper x-rays the unethical performance traits evident in the construction industry in Nigeria and the project delivery practices by indigenous firms that significantly influence the quality and thus the sustainability of construction output. Issues associated with quality control compliance are statistically analysed to determine existing trends. Multivariate analysis is deployed to measure the degree to which quality control parameters explain the participation level of indigenous local contractors in executing government projects. The study mathematically expresses the relationship between quality control adherence and indigenous participation in the execution of government contracts. The statistical analysis shows that the five quality control independent variables (internal organizational factor; the level of enlightenment; adequacy of designs; conducting of relevant tests and supervisory adherence) explain 47% of the variation in the level of indigenous participation. Poor quality control associated with the execution of contracts by indigenous construction companies in Nigeria may thus partly account for the low level of indigenous participation evident in the construction industry

The Effect of Environmental and Nutritional Manipulation On Year-Round Gonadal Development, Spawning And Recrudescence Of Female Clarias Gariepinus Broodfish.

A study was carried out to determine the influence of environmental and nutritional manipulation on cyclical gonadal development, spawning and recrudescence of female pond- bred Clarias gariepinus broodfish. This was aimed at proposing a substitute to chemical/hormonal stimulation for year- round gonadal development and proffering a simple adaptive, cost efficient and effective method of year-round fingerling production, for sustainable Catfish production. A total of 400 hundred adult catfish, weighing between180 and 250grams, measuring between17cm and 20cm were stocked in replicate experimental and control earthen ponds. In the experimental treatment, fishes were fed 40% Crude protein diet, the pond water continually pumped in and the level maintained at 30 cm, whereas water introduction and level in the control pond was dependent on nature (rainfall) and the fishes fed on natural food organisms from the pond waters. Fish were sampled randomly for the 12 months duration, for gonadal development, spawning and recrudescence using standard qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative, macro-morphologic assessment showed that, from June to November, both simulated and non-simulated fish groups exhibited a gradual improvement in gonadal development, from Immature Stage I to Fully matured stage IV, and then running ripe Stage V. By November, they all had Spent/Resting Stage VI. This was supported by the quantitative assessment-Gonadosomatic index (GSI), which rose gradually from May, peaking twice followed by a drop in October/November. This trend of gonadal development is natural as fish gonadal development commences and reproduction occurs during the rainy season, and ends as the dry season approaches (Clay, 1979; Legendre, 1986 and Fruend et al, 1995). Subsequently, from November up until January, the non-simulated fish group exhibited mainly the Spent/Resting Stage VI gonads, followed by a gradual improvement from Immature Stage I in February to Maturing Stage II in May. Hyder (1970) and Sikoki (1978) reported that reproductive activity is poor when favorable conditions do not persist. Contrarily, from November, up until May, the simulated fish groups were observed to continually exhibit a steady and stable supply of ready-to-spawn Fully mature Stage IV, and Running ripe Stage V. This was supported by high GSI values of the simulated fish groups as opposed to a drastic drop in GSI of non-simulated fish groups. Subsequently, GSI values of both fish groups showed a gradual rise from February to May, however, the simulated fish groups exhibited higher GSI. In conclusion, the simulated fishes had improved gonadal development as also supported by statistical data (probability of 0.01%). Thus, it is recommended that, further research be carried out on this method, to standardize it for year-round fingerling production and supply, as other forms of stimulants are either in short supply, complex to use for some, too expensive; and even the world at large is going GREEN, and avoiding the use of chemical or biological manipulation/ genetic multiplication of Food organisms. Key Words: Environmental and Nutritional Manipulation, Clarias gariepinus brood-fish, Gonadal development, Simulated fish, Non-simulated fish