Abstract

An investigation on the fishing methods and their implications for a sustainable environment in River Donga Taraba State Nigeria. Decline in water quality can increase in the price of food fish, this seriously affect the nutritional status of the population. The technology of fish exploitation in the Nigeria inland fisheries is mainly characterized using simple fishing gear and techniques. Analysis of global fisheries data by FAO shows decrease in the mean size of individual fish species and in the value of the catches. Data were collected using structure questionnaire which was administered to 130 fishers at random selection. Observations were made on the methods of fishing. The results were analysed by simple descriptive statistics such as tables, frequencies distribution and bar chart. The results showed that the highest gear used was gillnet/size with 2(32.3%) as highest and least 5(13.5%). Dragnet has highest respondent of size 2(49.1%) and lowest 3(21.1%) while cast net highest 2(41.2%) and lowest 1(06.7%). Other gears used were hook and line with highest 2(25.1%) and lowest of 6(02.6%), while calabash or “gura” had 09(60%) respondent and hooks and lines had 06(40%) respondents. The commonest size of gear used by fishers were 2 inches. Response from the fisher folks showed that the causes of endangered species were used of poison having 60(46.2%) and disturbances 5(3.8%) as the lowest. The most endangered species was Citharinus citharus with 56 (22.6%) respondents while the lowest were 6(2.1%) having Hemibagnis wyckii, Anguilla japonicum and “Garza”, respectively. It is believed that the crude technique of fishing which was widely practiced in our communities had not only brought a serious decline into fisheries but has also introduced hazards of various magnitude to the consumers and the entire aquatic environment. However, crude method should be prohibited from using among the fisher folks for realization of sustainable environment. Organizing workshop and seminars for fishers in order to up-date their knowledge on modern fisheries. These workshops and seminars can also help to acquaint the local fishers with the benefits accruable from the use of modern fishing techniques and the hazards associated with the continued use of crude methods.