FRAME SURVEY AND FISH CATCH ASSESSMENT OF THE BONTANGA RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

Reservoir fisheries play a vital role in the provision of fish protein to the people of northern Ghana. However, for 20 years, dwindling catches from these resources have become a common knowledge. The study was conducted in the Bontanga Reservoir, in the Northern Region of Ghana to mainly assess fish catches and management practices in the reservoir. The catch assessment was done by purposively selecting two canoes each from the eight landing sites. A frame survey with complete census method was carried out to identify management practices. The total catch recorded during the period of study was 779.9 kg and the Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) was estimated to be 2.7 kg/canoe/day. The study revealed eighteen fish species belonging to nine families in the reservoir. Catches were dominated by the family Cichlidae (70%) with Sarotherodon galilaeus being the predominant species (32%) while the least recorded species was Malapterurus electricus (0.2%). Management practices identified included ban on the use of drag nets and poisonous chemicals in the reservoir. It was concluded that fish catches were generally poor as a result of increasing number of fishers therefore closed season of fishing should be considered to promote spawning and growth of fish.