Evaluation of fish biodiversity integrity of Ebonyi River

A study of the fish biodiversity integrity of Ebonyi River was conducted from September 2006 to February 2008 to generate fundamental data needed in Fisheries policy formulations and to assess the potential of the Fishery in enhancing quality food protein production. A total number of 1,080 fishes (comprising Fin-fish and shell-fish) were caught with hooks and lines of size 13, cast nets, gill nets and traps of mesh sizes of 50mm, 75mm and 100mm and identified using taxonomic keys. There were 39 species belonging to 20 genera and 14 families. Percentage gear catch composition was 43.6%,23.8%,17.7% and 15.3%for cast nets, gillnets, hooks and traps respectively. Zooplankton samples were also collected identified and analyzed using standard plankton analysis protocol. Cladocerans, rotifers, copepods and protozoans were represented in the identified species. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the overall significance of the monthly means of all parameters and in locations and also to establish their correlation characteristics. Fisher's Least Significant Difference (F-LSD) was used to separate the means and to rank them. Family Amphilidae and Malapteruridae were not significant (p~B0.05) in monthly occurrence. Family Bagridae, Cichlidae and Clariidae showed highly significant (p<0. 01) monthly differences while the remaining fish families exhibited significant (p