Continental J.

Fisheries and Aquatic Science 5 (3): 6 - 13, 2011 Wilolud Journals, 2011 Printed in Nigeria

ISSN: 2141 4246 http://www.wiloludjournal.com

THE PERFORMANCE OF MALIAN TRAP USING FOUR BAIT TYPES IN LAKE KAINJI, NIGERIA Ogunfowora, O.O.; 1Yem, I.Y.; 2Ojo, S. O, and 3Ogunfowora, S. A. National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, P.M.B. 6006, New Bussa, Niger State 2 Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 3Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria
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ABSTRACT This study assessed differential effectiveness of bait types, rice bran (Oryza sativa.), corn offal (Zea mays) Clupeid (Sierrathrissa leonensis and Pellonula leonensis), termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) and unbaited as control for Malian traps was carried out in selected areas on Lake Kainji during 12 fishing trials. 2571 fish from twelve families and twenty five species were caught. Catch with the different baits and without the baits ranged from 65-1375, with the corn offal baited Malian trap having the largest with 53.48%, followed by rice bran 29.95%, clupeid 10.77%, termite 2.53%, and unbaited 3.27%. With the family Claroteidae constituting more than half the total catches. Catches of baited trap was higher than unbaited with the exception of termite baited traps. Seasonal variation influenced the catch recorded with a catch of 1373 recorded during the dry season as compared with 1198 recorded during the wet season. Result from this study has shown that other baits can also be incorporated into the Malian trap fisheries with equally desirable results that could be a possible solution to problem of high cost of corn offal which is becoming costlier by the day due to competition from other end users. KEYWORDS: Malian trap, catch, quality, performance, bait, Kainji Lake, Nigeria INTRODUCTION The efficiency of fishing gears in catching target species is of inherent concern to commercial fishing, fisheries research and resource management (Sissenwine and Kirkley, 1982). Traps are culturally almost universal and seem to have been independently invented many times and the choice of bait that is preferred by the targeted fish is critical, likewise placing the trap where it can easily be encountered by targeted species. Baited fishing gear effectiveness depends upon the behaviour of the target species, including activity rhythm, feeding motivation, sensory and locomotory abilities (Stoner, 2004). Traps are effectively used in freshwater rivers and lakes. This could be due to the hydrology, scale of fishing operation, availability of local material and the relatively cheap cost of the traps compared to the modern ones (Umar and Ipinjolu, 2001). In Lake Kainji, the Malian (gura) trap, which was borrowed from migratory Malian fishermen, is the most common and widely used by local fishermen to fish (Ipinjolu et al., 2004). Bait type may affect catches as target species are attracted to the odours of some more than others (Whitelaw et al. 1991; Furevik and Lokkeborg, 1994). According to (Balik et al., 2002), effect of bait types on efficiency has been known by fishermen. However, fishermen using Malian trap in Lake Kainji have no special consideration to species caught by the kind of food used in the trap because corn offal (dussa) is commonly used though Adjarho and Ajao (2007) used boiled yam (Dioscorea rotundata) and fresh palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis) as bait. There is still need to investigate other food sources to be used as bait to appeal to other variety of commercially exploited species and ascertain which has the most attractant quality. This study tends to determine the effect of different bait types on the catch rate of the trap with a view of finding cheaper, but equally effective baits for the Malian trap fishery. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sampling Site Monai Island and tsada in the southern fringe of Lake Kainji Basin were the sample sites. They were chosen due to accessibility and their shallow water that is best suited for Malian trap.

Ogunfowora, O.O et al.,; Continental J. Fisheries and Aquatic Science 5 (3): 6 - 13, 2011

Description of Malian Trap The Malian trap (Plate 1) used in this study was made from lianas and nylon netting material(2ply10d) with dimension of 72 cm in width, and 100cm in depth with two non-return entrance valves of diameter 10cm in both ends made of stronger netting material of mesh size 25mm, that permit a variety of fish to be caught. The top has loosed hanging net that could be opened for placement of baits and removal of fish caught.

Plate 1: Malian trap (Gura) Setting of Malian traps (Gura) Forty traps of equal dimension were set during the period of March 2009 to August 2009. The forty traps were divided into five chains; each containing 8 traps. The 8 traps on each set were spaced 60m apart for the purpose of inhibiting potentials leading from one bait to the next. Each set contained all traps of an equal mesh-size arranged randomly and left on the substratum for a soak-time of 48 hr before collection, sampling, rebaiting, re-randomizing the order of traps along a set, and re-setting the gear in a new location over a period of six months. Four bait arrangements were tested using corn offal, rice bran, termite, clupeid and un-baited as control. Corn offal (Dussa) is the most commonly used natural bait in the Malian trap fishery in Kainji Lake, and was therefore chosen as reference bait. To ensure that the baits were compared in both what the fishermen described as "good" and "not so good" locations, baits were allocated to traps in a predefined systematic order. The bait was allocated to the traps in the order and this was maintained throughout the study. Fish Measurement All fish caught in the traps were counted, weighed (kg), standard lengths and total length (cm) measured using weigh balance and measuring board. Number, average weight and species of the fish caught with the bait groups and the unbaited were compared. Statistical Analysis Differences in catch between the bait types and unbaited, length and weight were determined through Analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULT AND DISCUSSION Twenty-three species of fish belonging to twelve families was caught during the study period (Table 1). The family Claroteidae had the highest number with 74.95% of the total catch. This was followed by Cichlidae with 13.21% and the lowest being Malapteruridae, Polypteridae, Mochokidae and Schilbeidae with 0.04%. Claroteidae comprised 79.43% of the total weight followed by Alestidae with 9.89% and the lowest being Schilbeidae with 0.07%. This shows a broad diversification of species in terms of the different types of food fed upon and also the diverse fish families and species present in the lake as reported by Ita (1993).

Ogunfowora, O.O et al.,; Continental J. Fisheries and Aquatic Science 5 (3): 6 - 13, 2011

Overall catch during the period of study was 2571. Catch with the different baits and without the baits ranged from 65-1375 (Table 2); the corn offal baited Malian trap was the largest with 53.48%, followed by rice bran 29.95%, clupeid 10.77%, termite 2.53%, and unbaited 3.27% of which the family Claroteidae constituting more than half of the total catches. As shown in (Table 1) catches of baited trap was higher than unbaited with the exception of termite baited traps. The difference in relative quantities of each type of fish caught in the Malian trap could be due to the influence of the baits. Romaire (1995) reported that trap catch is affected by numerous factors including water temperature, water quality, forage and feeding regime, population density, size structure, number of trapping days, bait type and bait quantity. Seasonal variation influenced the catch recorded as shown in (Figure 1 and 2) with a slightly higher catch of 1373 recorded during the dry season between March and May as compared with 1198 recorded during the wet season which concurs with the report of Abiodun and Niworu (2004). In terms of weight of catch, however it was found that clupeid bait ranked next to the corn offal as it attract piscivorous species (Malapterurus electricus, Lates niloticus) which are much bigger. The result of the analysis of the variance of the percentage of fish showed there was no significant difference in the number of the fish caught with the different bait in the wet and dry season except that of unbaited and clupeid (p<0.05) and also there was significance in terms of weight during wet and dry season except with rice bran and unbaited (p<0.05). Also, the mean length (Table 3) of fish in the baited treatments was noticeably higher than those of the unbaited treatment with the exception of termite. This could be due to the presence and the level of attraction of the bait found in the traps. CONCLUSION The study showed that other bait types did not have a higher percentage of catch as the corn offal bait, but other baits can also be incorporated into the Malian trap fisheries with equally desirable results because corn offal is becoming costlier by the day due to competition from other end users which is also in line with the assertion of FAO (1997) that formulated bait must have equal or lower price than natural bait. There is a common view among the fishermen on the lake that the Malian trap is not effective without bait but this study has proved the otherwise. Therefore, future formulated baits should preferably contain by-products from other industrial wastes, which could also give the best attractant quality. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The author is grateful to the Executive Director of NIFFR, New-Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria for sponsoring this research work. REFERENCES Abiodun, J. A. and Nworu, A. M. (2004). Fisheries Statistical Bulletin Kainji Lake, Nigeria. Kainji Lake Fisheries Management and Conservation Unit. Technical Report Series 23.ISSN:1119-1449 Adjarho, A. I. and Ajao, A. H. (2007). Effect of baits on the efficiency of Malian traps in Lake Kainji. Proceedings of the Fisheries of Society of Nigeria (FISON), 303pp Balik, I. Cubuk, H, and Uysal, R. (2003). Effect of Bait on Efficiency of Fyke-nets for Catching Crayfish Astacus leptodactylus Esch. 1823. Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3:1- 4 FAO Fisheries Report (1997) FAO. Technical consultation on reduction of wastage in fisheries. FAO Fish. Rep. 547. FAO, Rome. 1996; 27 pp Furevik, D. M. and Lkkeborg, S. (1994). Fishing trials in Norway for torsk (Brosme brosme) and cod (Gadus morhua) using baited commercial pots. Fisheries Research 19: 219-229 Ipinjolu, J. K, Agbelege, O. O and Hassan, W. A. (2007). Exploratory survey of Malian and Ndurutu traps in River Rima, North Western Nigeria. Proceedings of the Fisheries of Society of Nigeria (FISON), 342pp

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Ita, E.O. (1993). Inland Fisheries Resources of Nigeria, CIFA Occasional Paper No.20, FAO Rome, 1993, 120p Jester, D. B. (1977). Effects of color, mesh-size, fishing in seasonal concentrations, and baiting on catch rates of fishes in gillnet. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 106:43-56 Krouse, J. S. and Thomas, J. C. (1975). Effects of trap selectivity and some population parameters on size composition of the American lobster, Homarus americanus, catch along the Maine Coast. Fishery Bulletin 73(4): 862-871 Romaire, R.P. (1995). Harvesting methods and strategies used in commercial procambarid crawfish aquaculture. Journal of Shellfish Research 14(2):545-551 Sissenwine, M. P. and Kirkley, J. E. (1982). Practical aspects and limitations of fishery management techniques. Mar. Policy 6: 43-58 Stoner, A.W. (2004). Effects of environmental variables on fish feeding ecology: implications for the performance of baited fishing gear and stock assessment. Journal of Fish Biology 65:1445-1471l Umar, K. A. and Ipinjolu, J. K. (2001). The efficiency of baited Malian and Ndurutu trap in three freshwater bodies in North West Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Environment 2(1): 101 Whitelaw, A.W., Sainsbury, K. J., Dews, G. J. and Campbell, R. A. (1991). Catching characteristics of four fish-trap types on the north west shelf of Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 42: 369-382

Ogunfowora, O.O et al.,; Continental J. Fisheries and Aquatic Science 5 (3): 6 - 13, 2011

Table1: Percentage number and weight of fish species caught in the Malian traps Family/ Species Number % Number Weight (g) Claroteidae Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus Chrysichthys auratus Clarotes laticeps Auchenoglanis occidentalis Malapteruridae Malapterurus electricus Mormyridae Petrocephalus bane Mormyrops anguilloides Alestidae Alestes dentex Brycinus leusiscus Schilbeidae Schilbe mystus Distichodontidae Distichodus rostratus Cichlidae Hemichromis fasciatus Hemichromis bimaculatus Tilapia zillii Sarotherodon galilaeus Oreochromis niloticus Chromadotilapia guntheri Polypteridae Polypterus endlicheri Cyprinidae Labeo coubie Labeo senegalensis Mochokidae Synodontis schall Bagridae Bagrus bayad Centropomidae Lates niloticus Total 1003 690 228 6 2 19 3 91 156 2 2 1 21 13 3 21 281 1 1 11 1 7 8 2571 39.01 26.84 8.87 0.23 0.08 0.74 0.11 3.54 6.07 0.08 0.08 0.04 0.81 0.50 0.11 0.82 10.93 0.04 0.04 0.43 0.04 0.27 0.31 100 20495 17216 18670 1510 300 795 240 2340 4760 50 275 50 230 479 135 479 3367 350 50 282 200 125 485 72883

% Weight 28.12 23.62 25.62 2.07 0.41 1.09 0.33 3.21 6.53 0.07 0.38 0.07 0.31 0.66 0.18 0.66 4.62 0.48 0.07 0.39 0.27 0.17 0.67 100

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Ogunfowora, O.O et al.,; Continental J. Fisheries and Aquatic Science 5 (3): 6 - 13, 2011

Table 2: Fish composition caught in Malian traps with different baits FAMILY Claroteidae SPECIE Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus Chrysichthys auratus Clarotes laticeps Auchenoglanis occidentalis Petrocephalus bane Mormyrus anguilloides Alestes dentex Brycinus leusiscus Malapterurus electricus Schilbe mystus Distichodus rostratus Hemichromis fasciatus Hemichromis bimaculatus Tilapia zillii Sarotheredon galilaeus Oreochromis niloticus Chromadotilapia guntheri Polypteridae Cyprinidae Mochokidae Bagridae Centropomidae Total Polypterus endelcheri Labeo coubie Labeo senegalensis Synodontis schall Bagrus bayad Lates niloticus CORN OFFAL No % 840 61.10 242 17.60 9 5 1 55 92 1 1 2 2 9 99 1 11 1 3 1 1375 0.65 0.36 0.07 4.00 6.69 0.07 0.07 0.15 0.15 0.65 7.20 0.07 0.80 0.07 0.22 0.07 100 BAITS RICE BRAN No % 158 20.52 392 50.91 7 1 1 2 36 28 2 2 1 12 125 1 2 770 0.91 0.13 0.13 0.26 4.67 3.64 0.26 0.26 0.13 1.56 16.23 0.13 0.26 100 CLUPEID No % 3 1.08 5 1.81 197 4 36 1 5 20 2 4 277 71.12 1.44 0.36 1.81 1.81 7.22 0.72 1.44 100 TERMITE No % 1 1.54 29 44.61 8 7 1 1 11 6 1 65 12.31 10.77 1.54 1.54 16.92 9.23 1.54 100 UNBAITED No % 1 1.19 22 26.19 7 6 1 13 1 31 1 1 84 8.33 7.14 1.19 15.48 1.19 36.90 1.19 1.19 100 OVERALL CATCH 1003 690 228 6 19 3 91 156 2 2 2 1 21 13 3 21 281 1 1 11 1 7 8 2571 39.01 26.2 26.84 6.8 8.87 26.8 0.23 26.8 0.74 26.8 0.12 26.8 3.54 26.8 6.07 26.8 0.08 26.8 0.08 26.8 0.08 26.8 0.04 26.8 0.81 26.8 0.50 26.8 26.8 26.8 26.8 26.8 26.8 26.8 26.8 26.8 26.8 0.12 0.82 10.93 0.04 0.04 0.43 0.04 0.27 0.31 100

Mormyridae Alestidae Malapteruridae Schilbeidae Distichodontidae Cichlidae

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Ogunfowora, O.O et al.,; Continental J. Fisheries and Aquatic Science 5 (3): 6 - 13, 2011

Table 3: Mean length of fish caught with bait types and unbaited during dry and wet season

Bait Corn offal Rice bran Clupeid Termite Un baited

Dry 11.32 14.85 8.9 12.40 8.92

Wet 15.50 15.10 12.92 8.95 9.37

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Ogunfowora, O.O et al.,; Continental J. Fisheries and Aquatic Science 5 (3): 6 - 13, 2011

Received for Publication: 02/08/2011 Accepted for Publication: 18/10/2011 Corresponding author Ogunfowora, O.O. National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, P.M.B. 6006, New Bussa, Niger State Email: bosunoguns@yahoo.com

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