Lake Chad fisheries and its importance in the Green Revolution Programme

Lake Chad fisheries contributes about 13% of all fish produced by the inland and coastal states of the nation and supports a large population of fishermen and allied workers. The species of freshwater fish produced from the Lake such as Gymnarchus, Clarias and Heterotis are very popular with the fish consumers in Nigeria; hence Lake Chad processed fish is transported long distances to southern Nigerian markets. Lake Chad thus contributes significantly to the provision of fish protein and to the Green Revolution Programm

Studies on the biology of Gymnarchus niloticus in Lake Chad: Age determination and growth; meristic and morphometric characters

The meristic and morphometric characteristics of Gymnarchus niloticus are described and linear equations relating various parts of the body to the head length or total length are given. The age of G. niloticus in Lake Chad (Nigeria) was determined from growth marks on the opercular bones. The mean lengths for age, and mean weights for age obtained for the first five years of life are given. The assymptotic length and the von Betarlanffy growth parameters for the males and females combined are give

Preliminary observations on the feeding, habits and reproduction biology of Gymnarchus niloticus from Lake Chad

The preliminary results obtained from the study of stomach contents of specimens of Gymnarchus niloticus of a size ranging from 56 cm (66 grams) to 152 cm (12.0 kg.) from August to December, 1982 indicate for these sizes an exclusively piscivorous diet. The predominant prey species in Lake Chad are Tilapia/Sarotherodon , and Clarias . The prey is often cut in two parts before it is swallowed. Small prey may be swallowed whole. The implication of this prey capture method on prey-predator relationship and therefore the impact of the predator is discussed. The breeding season of Gymnarchus niloticus in Lake Chad has been deduced from observation of changes in gonad maturity stages and the results indicate that breeding takes place between August and November. Data are also presented on the fecundity, size of ripe eggs and probable size at maturit

The role of research and research institutes in fisheries development in the 1980's

An indication is given as to areas in Nigerian fisheries development which require research in the 1980's: fish resource surveys, fishing technology, fish processing and preservation technology, and aquaculture. The role of research institutes is also considere

A review of recent advances in commercial tilapia culture

The paper introduces the tilapias as important culture fish; their classification, breeding habits and general ecology are discussed. The versatility and plasticity of their reproduction and growth are major advantages as well as draw backs in their use as culture species. The culture of tilapias in ponds, cages, pens and raceways are described and a comparison of extensive and intensive cultivation is made. The major factors in commercial cultivation of tilapias such as feeds, hatchery/fry production and disease control are discussed. Recommendation is made for the consideration of tilapia as the equivalent of the common carp in tropical African fish culture in either monoculture or in polyculture with other fish specie

Solutions associated with discrete and continuous spectrums in the inverse scattering method for the Vakhnenko-Parkes equation

In this paper the inverse scattering method is applied to the Vakhnenko-Parkes equation. We describe a procedure for using the inverse scattering transform to find the solutions that are associated with both the bound state spectrum and continuous spectrum of the spectral problem. The suggested special form of the singularity function gives rise to the multi-mode periodic solutions. Sufficient conditions are obtained in order that the solutions become real functions. The interaction of the solitons and multi-mode periodic waves is studied. The procedure is illustrated by considering a number of examples

Evaluation of toxicity effect of Datura innoxia root extract to Clarias gariepinus fingerlings

Clarias gariepinus fingerlings were exposed 96 hours under laboratory conditions using static bioassays with continuous aeration to determine acute toxicity of Datura innoxia root extract. The LC sub(50) of the exposed fingerlings was 128.83 mg/L. The fish exhibited loss of balance, respiratory distress and swam erratically just prior to deat

Effects of extracts of dried seeds of Toloache, Datura innoxia as anaesthesia on the African catfish Clarias gariepinus fingerlings

The effects of crude extract, pure extract, aqueous, fraction of pure and lipid fraction of pure extract of dried seeds of toloache. Datura innoxia as anaesthesia on the African catfish. Clarias gariepinus fingerlings were studied. The fish were exposed to various doses of the extract in aquaria tanks and the time taken for each fish to reach anaesthesia was recorded. The fish were anaesthetized up to 3.00g/l fingerlings reached anaesthesia is significantly (P0.05) better anaesthetic on the fish. The control produced no observable anaesthetic effect on the fish within three hours. This suggests that the anaesthetizing active ingredent resided in the lipid fraction. All fish recovered from anaesthesia, swam and fed actively and no mortality was observed throughout the exposure period and thereafter. It is therefore recommended for use on C. gariepinus fingerling

A study of the length at maturity and hooks/gill net mesh selection in Clarias lazera from Lake Chad

The minimum length at first maturity of Clarias lazera was found to be 24 cm (4.8%) for females and 20 cm (1.8%) for males. Fifty percent maturity was attained at length of 28 cm to 30 cm for both sexes; there being little difference among the sexes at this level of maturity. The modal retention lengths for gill nets were: 13 cm for 25.5 mm mesh; 18 cm for 32 mm mesh; 28 cm for 57 mm mesh; and 38 cm for 76 mm mesh. Modal lengths of Clarias lazera caught by various hooks sizes were No. 10 (28 cm); No. 11 (33 cm); Nos. 15 and 16 (28 cm). It is recommended that to protect the clarias fishery in Lake Chad, the use of gill nets of less than 57 mm mesh size and fishing hook No. 16 (and smaller sizes) which caught 43.94% of immature fishes should be discourage

A novel nonlinear evolution equation integrable by the inverse scattering method

A Backlund transformation for an evolution equation (ut+u ux)x+u=0 transformed into new coordinates is derived. An inverse scattering problem is formulated. The inverse scattering method has a third order eigenvalue problem. A procedure for finding the exact N-soliton solution of the Vakhnenko equation via the inverse scattering method is described