FISH AND FISHERIES OF THE WHITE VOLTA IN THE PWALUGU AREA: IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The study was carried out on the White Volta Stretch in the Pwalugu area to assess the fish and fisheries of the River. Catch Per Unit Effort was generally low over the entire study period (July 2019 — June 2020) as highest and lowest CPUE were recorded in March 2020 and May 2020 respectively. The River stretch was found to be rich in fish fauna as 39 fish species belonging to 27 genera and 13 families were encountered over the period of study. Three of these species (Auchenoglanis occidentalls, Marcussenius senegalensis and Heterobranchus bidorsalis). were identified as the major commercial fish species on the River stretch. All three major commercial fish species showed a negative allometric growth as they recorded b values less than 3. However, they were found to be healthy as amean K values (condition factor) greater than 1. Whilst Auchenoglanis occidentahs and Heterobranchus bidorsalis showed a feeding habit similar to that of an omnivorous fish, Marcusenius senegalensis showed a feeding habit that suggests that, it is an invertivore. Of the three commercial species, Marcusenius senegalensis recorded the highest GSI (2.14±0.83) whereas Auchenoglanis occidentahs and Heterobranchus bidorsalis recorded GS I of 1.81±0.67 and 1.84±0.76 respectively. Fecundity was however highest in Auchenoglanis occidentahs (495±450.96) whereas Marcusenius senegalensis and Heterobranchus bidorsalis recorded fecundities of 188±71.78 and 268±114.66 respectively. The widely used fishing gears in the area include; gill nets, traps, cast nets, hook and line and fishing spear. All water quality parameters analysed for study, recorded values within the acceptable limits of the World Health Organization (WHO), European Union (EU) and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) except turbidity which recorded an annual mean of 22.62 NTU above the acceptable limit of the World Health Organization (5.0 NTU). Fishing activities on the river stretch is unreported and unregulated. It was thus recommended that the Fisheries Commission office in the Upper East Region should be resourced to recruit graduates with knowledge in fisheries and aquatic sciences to monitor and ensure compliance with fisheries regulations on the river stretch.