Evaluation of fisheries capacity, condition factor and physicochemical characteristics of different aquatic ecosystems in Jos, North Central, Nigeria

Abstract

Fishery potentials and physicochemical parameters of four selected reservoirs including Kogingirin, Liberty, Lamingo and Tolemache in Jos metropolis were investigated for an interval of three months from August 2015 to February 2016. A total of seven fish species namely Oreochromis niloticus, Hemichromis bimaculatus, Tilapia zilli, Cyprinus carpio, Clarias gariepinus, Barbus occidentalis and Lates niloticus, distributed into four families, were found cross the reservoirs. The highest numbers of six species were recorded in Liberty reservoir while only one species was found in Kogingirin reservoir. The condition factor of the fishes from Kogingirin and Liberty reservoirs was 1.50, while those in Lamingo and Tolemache were 2.30 and 2.00 respectively. The water quality parameters of the reservoirs showed that they were within the range for the survival of aquatic life. The findings are discussed with implications for sensitization of the relevant authority towards the fisheries potential of these water bodies which could improve the economic life of the communities around them by boosting adequate fishing activities for the purpose of best practices.