Larval Fish Recruitment and Research in the Americas: Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual Larval Fish Conference Merida, Mexico, 21-26 May 1989

The 13th Annual Larval Fish Conference and Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society Early Life History Section cohosted by Mote Marine Laboratory, United States, and the Instituto Nacional de la Pesca, Mexico, were held 21-26 May 1989, in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. The purpose of holding the meeting in Mexico was to encourage the participation of our Latin American and Caribbean colleagues and to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among researchers working in the Americas. More than 150 participants represented 24 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and 13 foreign countries including Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, Costa Rico, Panama, Cuba, Columbia, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and West Germany. The Conference began with registration and a social in the courtyard patio of the Merida Holiday Inn. Fresh red grouper, the most important commercial finfish species of the State of Yucatan, was prepared and served by the hotel staff, courtesy of CPI, Itzamex, and the Terramar Trading Company. (PDF file contains 146 pages.)

Proceedings of the Twenty-third Annual Symposium on sea turtle biology and conservation, 17 to 21 March 2003, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The 23rd Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation was held between 17 and 21 March 2003 at The Legend Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hosted by the Community Conservation Network, Hawaii, and WWF-Malaysia. The meeting was attended by slightly more than 300 participants representing 73 countries, a dramatic drop in participation from previous years brought about in no small part by the looming war in the middle east region and concerns over travel safety. For 22 years the Symposium had bee an Americas-based event, even though it is the annual gathering of the "international" sea turtle society, and with the move to Malaysia, the Symposium hoped to raise the awareness among the general public of the plight of amrine turtles in Southeast Asia, and share the enormous exspertise of the world authorities on sea turtles with this so-far underrepresented region. Adopting the thems, "Living With Turtles", the Symposium had a very personal flavour, and the smaller number of participants made it possible to make and renew acquaintances, and have time for discussion between sessions. While the travel safety concern excuse was often quoted, it was a pity, particularly to the large contingent of people who attended the event for the first time from underrepresented regions, that many of the household names linked to marine turtle biology and conservation were not present to share their knowledge and promote the global concerns on the plight of turtle populations.

Annual report chinook salmon spawner stocks in California's central valley, 1991

This report covers the 39th annual inventory of chinook salman, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, spawner populations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River system." It is a compilation of reports estimating the fall-, winter-, late-fall-, and spring-run salman spawner populatiens fer streams which were surveyed. Estimates were made from counts of fish entering hatcheries and migrating past dams, from surveys of dead and live fish and redds on spawning areas, and from aerial counts. The estimated 1991 total escapement of chinook salmon in the Central Valley was 147,080 fish. This total consisted of 132,571 fall-, 5,921 spring-, 190 winter-, and 8,398 late-fall-run spawners. All of the spring-, late-fall-, and winter-run salmon were estimated to be in the Sacramento River system, while 1,176 fish of the fall run were in the San Joaquin River system. Spawner populations in all individual tributaries (except the American River) and the Sacramento River mainstem were lower than in 1990; but it should be noted that fall run populations in the Feather and Yuba rivers, two of the larger tributaries, were not surveyed that year. The winter run in the mainstem Sacramento River was at a record low level. (PDF contains 42 pages.)

Geographical distribution of the annual catches of yellowfin and skipjack tuna from the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean from vessel logbook records, 1952-1955

ENGLISH: The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission is engaged in scientific studies of the tuna resources of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. One of the most important aspects of these investigations is the evaluation of the effects of fishing upon the populations of yellowfin tuna (Neothunnus macropterus) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) of this region, based upon the analysis of quantitative records of fishing effort and catch. The systematic collection and compilation of statistical information on the operations and production of the tuna fishing Beet have, therefore, been essential parts of the research program since its inception in 1951. SPANISH: La Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical está dedicada al estudio cientifico de los recursos de atún del Océano Pacifico Oriental Tropical. Uno de los aspectos más importantes de las investigaciones es la evaluación de los efectos de la pesca sobre las poblaciones de atún aleta amarilla (Neothunnus macropterus) y barrilete (Katsuwonus pelamis) de esta región, sobre la base del análisis de los registros cuantitativos del esfuerzo de pesca y captura respectiva. La recolección sistemática y la compilación de informaciones estadisticas sobre las operaciones y producción de la flota pesquera de atún han sido, consecuentemente, de esencial importancia dentro de nuestro programa de trabajo desde su comienzo en 1951. (PDF contains 77 pages.)

Panama City Fisheries Resources Office: FY 2009 Annual Report

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY 2009 1. Completed the second of a two-year Gulf sturgeon population study on the Choctawhatchee River, Florida. The juvenile, sub adult and adult Gulf sturgeon population was estimated at 3,400 fish. 2. Three young of year Gulf sturgeon were collected by Corps of Engineers biologists in the upper Brothers Rivers. 3. Two YCC enrollees spent eight weeks assisting PCFO biologists and Tyndall AFB with various projects. 4. The Gulf Sturgeon 5-Year Summary and Evaluation was completed. 5. Karen Herrington co-authored a peer-reviewed journal article for a striped bass symposium at the annual American Fisheries Society meeting, which will be published in the symposium proceedings. The article reviews the past 25 years of striped bass restoration in the ACF and is titled “Restoration of Gulf Striped Bass: Lessons and Management Implications”. 6. We documented recent purple bankclimber recruitment in the Ochlockonee River for the first time in several years. 7. We provided over 200 genetic samples to Warm Springs Fish Technology Center to compare mussel populations and genetic diversity, rank populations by status, and facilitate recovery actions. 8. We established permanent mussel monitoring locations in Sawhatchee Creek and the Flint River to examine trends in population size, survival, and recruitment. 9. We provided a prioritized list to the Federal Emergency Management Agency of 197 stream crossings that occur near freshwater mussel populations in order to facilitate habitat restoration following major flooding in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia in the spring of 2009.

20th annual meeting of the WEFTA Working Group on Analytical Methods in Fish and Fishery Products and 3rd annual meeting of the WEFTA Working Group on Microbiology. A retrospect on 20 years

After 20 annual meetings it is worth to have a look back and to see how it has started. There has been very little collaboration on research projects between member institutes under the auspices of WEFTA, co-operation in more neutral areas of common interest was developed at an early stage. The area which has proved very fruitful is methodology. It was agreed that probably the best way to make progress was to arrange meetings at each laboratory in turn where experienced, practising scientists could describe in detail how they carried out analyses. In this way, difficulties could be demonstrated or uncovered, and the accuracy, precision, efficiency and cost of the methods used in different laboratories could be compared.

Estimation of the relative annual abundance of yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, in the Eastern Pacific Ocean during 1970-1985

ENGLISH: Estimates of relative annual abundance of yellowfin tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean during 1970-1985 are made using catch rates, measured as tons caught by purse seiners per hour of searching. Catch rates are standardized a weighted generalized linear model. The important standardizing factors are vessel speed, season-area, and whether the yellowfin were caught in association with dolphins, skipjack tuna, or floating objects. Observations are weighted to give equal areas equal weight and to give each unit of fishing effort equal weight within an area. The results indicate that catch per days fishing underestimates abundance during the late 1970's when the fishery shifted some of its effort from dolphin sets to floating object sets, and overestimates abundance when the fishery shifted back to dolphin sets in 1984 and 1985. SPANISH: Se estima la abundancia anual relativa del atún aleta amarilla en el Océano Pacífico oriental (OPO) durante 1970-1985 por medio de tasas de captura, calculadas como toneladas cortas capturadas por barcos cerqueros por hora de búsqueda. Se usa un modelo lineal ponderado generalizado para estandardizar las tasas de captura. Los factores importantes de estandardización son la velocidad del barco, temporada-área, y si se capturaron los aletas amarillas en asociación con delfines, barriletes, o objetos flotantes. Se ponderaron las observaciones para otorgar igual importancia a áreas iguales y a cada unidad de esfuerzo pesquero dentro de un área. Los resultados señalan que la captura por día de pesca estima por bajo la abundancia durante los últimos años de la década de los 70, en cual época la pesquería trasladó parte de su esfuerzo de lances sobre delfines a lances sobre objetos flotantes, y la sobreestima al volver la pesquería a lances sobre delfines en 1984 y 1985. (PDF contains 45 pages.)

An evaluation of geographic and annual variation in morphometric characters and gill-raker counts of yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, from the Pacific Ocean

ENGLISH: Samples of yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, collected from five areas of the Pacific Ocean (Mexico, Ecuador, Australia, Japan, and Hawaii) between January and May of 1988 and 1990 were examined for spatiotemporal variation in morphometric characters and gill-raker counts. 'Iwo-factor analysis of variance, with area and year treated as grouping factors, indicated a significant difference in the means of the total gill-raker counts among fish from different areas, but no significant difference between fish caught in different years. The morphometric data were adjusted by allometric formulae to remove size effects. The correct classification rates for the five groups, using discriminant function analysis, based on adjusted morphometric characters, were 77.60/0 for the samples from 1988 and 74.40/0 for those from 1990. These are 72.00/0 and 68.00/0 (Cohen's kappa statistic) better than would have occurred chance. The pattern of geographic variability, however, is unstable for these two years, thus requiring separate discriminant functions for each year. Although there is annual variability in the morphometric characters, these results demonstrate that the stocks examined are morphometrically distinguishable and that their phenetic relationships reflect their geographic origin. SPANISH: Se examinaron muestras de atún aleta amarilla, Thunnus albacares, tomadas de cinco áreas del Océano Pacífico (México, Ecuador, Australia, Japón, y Hawaii) entre enero y mayo de 1988 y 1990, para descubrir variaciones espaciotemporales en las características morfométricas y los conteos de branquiespinas. Un análisis de varianza de dos factores, con área y año como factores de agrupación, indicó una diferencia significativa en los promedios de los conteos de branquiespinas totales entre peces de distintas áreas, pero ninguna entre peces capturados en distintos años. Se ajustaron los datos morfométricos con fórmulas alométricas para eliminar los efectos de la talla del pez. En un análisis de función discriminante, las tasas de clasificación correcta de los cinco grupos, basadas en características morfométricas ajustadas, fueron 77.60/0 para las muestras de 1988 y 74.40/0 para aquellas de 1990. Estas cifras son 72.00/0 y 68.00/0 (estadístico de kappa de Cohen) mejores de lo que se hubiera obtenido al azar. Sin embargo, la variabilidad geográfica es inestable en estos dos años, requiriendo por lo tanto funciones discriminantes separadas para cada año. Aunque existe variabilidad anual en las características morfométricas, estos resultados demuestran que los stocks examinados son morfamétricamente distinguibles, y que su relación fenética refleja su origen geográfico. (PDF contains 31 pages.)

Panama City Fisheries Resources Office: FY 2008 Annual Report

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY 2008 1. Completed the first of a two-year Gulf sturgeon population study on the Choctawhatchee River, Florida. The sub adult and adult Gulf sturgeon population was estimated at 2,800 fish. 2. Gulf sturgeon eggs were collected at three hard bottom sites in the Apalachicola River, Florida; two sites were previously confirmed spawning areas and one was a newly confirmed spawning area. 3. Documented 55 potential environmental threats to Gulf sturgeon spawning habitat in the Pea River, Florida and Alabama. 4. Assigned the Eglin AFB Road-Stream Crossing Working Group to guide the closure, repair and maintenance of roads and road stream crossings that impact threatened and endangered species. 5. Conducted 81 assessments of fish and stream invertebrates on and in watersheds surrounding Eglin AFB. 6. Provided technical support for the 5-year status review and reclassification proposed rule for the Okaloosa darter. 7. Initiated an intensive population genetic analysis of the Okaloosa darter throughout its range. Tissues from over 200 Okaloosa darters were collected and analyzed. 8. Established a GIS database to serve as a host for data from any sites sampled for mussels in Northeast Gulf of Mexico drainages. 9. Conducted habitat surveys at 115 locations in the Apalachicola River to assess the effects of drought-related mussel mortality and strandings, evaluate habitat conditions, and assess population demography. 10. A land use/aerial imagery threats assessment data analysis was completed for the Chipola River. A total of 266 impoundments/borrow pits and 471 unpaved road crossings were identified among the threats. 11. Okaloosa darters marked with elastomeric dyes were monitored in Mill Creek, Eglin AFB, to determine movement and habitat use following completion of a fish passage project. 3 12. Partners for Fish and Wildlife funded a streambank and riparian restoration project on Econfina Creek consisting of 3,900 feet of streambank fencing to exclude cattle access. One acre of riparian floodplain was planted with native trees. 13. We provided design and on-the-ground assistance for restoring surface hydrology at St. Vincent NWR. The project restored approximately 1.5 miles of tidal stream and 100 acres of wetlands. 14. A study was completed on 11 coastal streams to document large wood debris relationships with fluvial geomorphic characteristics. 15. We developed a Population Viability Analysis model for the fat threeridge mussel to determine current and future risk of extinction. 17. A Gulf Sturgeon Friends Group, “Gulf Sturgeon Preservation Society” was organized in FY 08. 18. Multiple outreach projects were completed to detail aquatic resource conservation needs and opportunities, including National Fishing Week, Earth Day, several festivals and school outreach.

Panama City Fisheries Resources Office: FY 2007 Annual Report

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY 2007 1. Completed a three-year Gulf sturgeon population study on the Escambia River, Florida. The population was estimated at 451 fish. 2. Implemented the Gulf Striped Bass Restoration Plan by coordinating the 24th Annual Morone Workshop, leading the technical committee, transporting broodfish, coordinating stocking on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) river system, and evaluating post-stocking success. 3. Completed a survey to document the extent of aquatic resources, recreational fishing opportunities, and fishery management needs on Department of Defense (DoD) facilities located in Region 4. 4. Continued a project in the Apalachicola River to describe the effects of exceptional drought conditions on freshwater mussel recovery. 5. Initiated a study to locate extant populations of the federally endangered Ochlockonee moccasinshell in the Ochlockonee River Basin. We documented the first live individuals in 14 years. 6. Completed a five-year status review for seven threatened and endangered freshwater mussels in the NEG drainages. 7. Restored Mill Creek to improve habitat for the endangered Okaloosa darter by removing six fish passage barriers and creating approximately 3,000 linear feet of new and regenerated stream channel with floodplain and native vegetation. 8. Completed a fish passage project that connected about 5 miles of habitat in Little Rocky Creek, Eglin Air Force Base, to benefit the Okaloosa darter. 9. Completed a threats analysis to aquatic species in the Chipola River watershed using GIS stream data, aerial imagery, and land cover data. 10. Multiple outreach projects were completed to detail aquatic resource conservation needs and opportunities, including National Fishing Week, Earth Day, several festivals, and school outreach.

Panama City Fisheries Resources Office: FY 2006 Annual Report

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY 2006 1. Captured and tagged 475 Gulf sturgeons in five Florida rivers and one bay. 2. Documented Gulf sturgeon marine movement and habitat use in the Gulf of Mexico. 3. Assisted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the collection of Gulf sturgeon, implantation of acoustic tags, and monitoring of fish in a study to examine movement patterns and habitat use in Pensacola and Choctawhatchee bays post-Hurricane Ivan. 4. Provided technical assistance to Jon “Bo” Sawyer in completing a study – Summer Resting Areas of the Gulf Sturgeon in the Conecuh/Escambia River System, Alabama-Florida – for acquiring a Degree of Master of Science at Troy University, Alabama. 5. Coordinated tagging and data collection with NOAA observers aboard trawlers while collecting Gulf sturgeon during dredging operations in the coastal Gulf of Mexico. 6. Hosted the 7th Annual Gulf Sturgeon Workshop. 7. Implemented Gulf Striped Bass Restoration Plan by coordinating the 23rd Annual Morone Workshop, leading the technical committee, transporting broodfish, coordinating the stocking on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) river system, and evaluating post-stocking success. 8. Continued updating and managing the Freshwater Mussel Survey Database, a Geographic Information System (GIS) database, for over 800 unique sites in the Northeast Gulf (NEG) drainages in Alabama (AL), Georgia (GA), and Florida (FL). 9. Formed a recovery implementation team for listed mussels in the ACF river basin and oversaw grant cooperative agreements for 14 listed and candidate freshwater mussels in the NEG watersheds. 10. Initiated a project in the Apalachicola River to relocate mussels stranded as a result of drought conditions, and calculate river flows at which mussels would be exposed. 11. Initiated a project in Sawhatchee Creek, Georgia to determine the status of threatened and endangered (T&E) freshwater mussels and target restoration projects, population assessments, and potential population augmentation to lead toward recovery of the listed species. 12. Initiated a study to determine the age and growth of the endangered fat threeridge mussel (Amblema neislerii). 13. Provided technical assistance to the Panama City Ecological Services office for a biological opinion on the operations of Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam and its effects on the listed species and designated and proposed critical habitat in the Apalachicola River, Florida. 14. Assisted with a multi-State, inter-agency team to develop a management plan to restore the Alabama shad in the ACF river system. 15. Conducted fishery surveys on Tyndall AFB, Florida and Ft. Benning, Georgia and completed a report with recommendations for future recreational fishery needs. 16. Provided fishery technical assistance to four National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) (i.e., Okefenokee NWR, Banks Lake NWR, St. Vincent NWR, and St. Marks NWR). 17. Initiated an Aquatic Resources and Recreation Fishing Survey on Department of Defense facilities located in Region 4. 18. Identified 130 road-stream crossings on Eglin AFB for rehabilitation and elimination of sediment imputs. 19. Continued the Aquatics Monitoring Program at Eglin AFB to assess techniques that determine current status and sustainability of aquatic habitat and develop a measure to determine quality or degradation of habitat. 20. Assisted Eglin AFB Natural Resource managers in revising the installation’s Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and its associated component plans. 21. Coordinated recovery efforts for the endangered Okaloosa darter including population/life history surveys, stream restoration, and outreach activities. 22. Initiated a comprehensive status review of the Okaloosa darter with analyses performed to assess available habitat, preferred habitats, range expansions/reductions/fragmentations, population size, and probability of extinction. 23. Assisted the Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under a Memorandum of Agreement to develop conservation strategies, implement monitoring and assessment programs, and secure funds for aquatic management programs in six watersheds in northwest Florida and southeast Alabama. 24. Entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Air Force to encourage the conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources at Hurlburt Field, Florida. 25. Multiple outreach projects were completed to detail aquatic resources’ conservation needs and opportunities; including National Fishing Week, Earth Day, several festivals, and school outreach.

Panama City Fisheries Resources Office: FY 2003 Annual Report

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY 2003 1. Continued a 3-year threatened Gulf sturgeon population estimate in the Escambia River, Florida and conducted presence-absence surveys in 4 other Florida river systems and 1 bay. 2. Five juvenile Gulf sturgeon collected, near the mouth of the Choctawhatchee River, Florida, were equipped with sonic tags and monitored while over-wintering in Choctawhatchee Bay. 3. Continued to examine Gulf sturgeon marine habitat use. 4. Implemented Gulf Striped Bass Restoration Plan by coordinating the 20th Annual Morone Workshop, leading the technical committee, transporting broodfish, and coordinating the stocking on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) river system. 5. Over 73,000 Phase II Gulf striped bass were marked with sequential coded wire tags and stocked in the Apalachicola River. Post-stocking evaluations were conducted at 31 sites. 6. Three stream fisheries assessment s were completed to evaluate the fish community at sites slated for habitat restoration by the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (PFW). 7. PFW program identified restoration needs and opportunities for 10 areas. 8. Developed an Unpaved Road Evaluation Handbook. 9. Completed restoration of Chipola River Greenway, Seibenhener Streambank Restoration, Blackwater River State Forest, and Anderson Property. 10. Assessments for fluvial geomorphic conditions for design criteria were completed for 3 projects. 11. Geomorphology in Florida streams initiated development of Rosgen regional curves for Northwest Florida for use by the Florida Department of Transportation. 12. Developed a Memorandum of Understanding between partners for enhancing, protecting, and restoring stream, wetland, and upland habitat in northwest Florida 13. Completed aquatic fauna and fish surveys with new emphasis on integration of data from reach level into watershed and landscape scale and keeping database current. 14. Compliance based sampling of impaired waterbodies on Eglin Air Force Base in conjunction with Florida Department of Environmental Protection for Total Maximum Daily Load development support. 15. Surveyed 20 sites for the federally endangered Okaloosa darter, provided habitat descriptions, worked with partners to implement key recovery tasks and set priorities for restoration. 16. Worked with partners to develop a freshwater mussel survey protocol to provide standard operating procedures for establishing the presence/absence of federally listed mussel species within a Federal project area. 17. GIS database was created to identify all known freshwater mussel records from the northeast Gulf ecosystem. 18. Completed recovery plan for seven freshwater mussels and drafted candidate elevation package for seven additional mussels. Developed proposals to implement recovery plan. 19. Worked with Corps of Engineers and State partners to develop improved reservoir operating policies to benefit both riverine and reservoir fisheries for the ACF river system. 20. Multiple outreach projects were completed to detail aquatic resources conservation opportunities. 21. Multiple stream restoration and watershed management projects initiated or completed (see Appendix A).

Panama City Fisheries Resources Office: FY 2002 Annual Report

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY 2002 1. United States Senator Bob Graham assisted with a Gulf sturgeon survey. 2. Completed 3-year Gulf sturgeon population study in the Choctawhatchee River drainage. 3. Completed Gulf sturgeon potential spawning habitat survey for Northwest Florida and Southeast Alabama river systems. 4. Initiated Gulf sturgeon marine habitat and food resources study. 5. Completed Gulf sturgeon sentinel fish study. 6. Coordinated and conducted tagging of over 110,000 Phase II striped bass at Welaka and Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery. 7. Completed Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge fishery sampling. 8. Developed a manuscript regarding the fishery of Banks Lake NWR. 9. Initiated development of a fish Index of Biotic Integrity for Florida panhandle streams. 10. Coordinated Okaloosa darter workshop. 11. Continued examining insect communities on Eglin AFB. 12. Sponsored and coordinated stream restoration workshop. 13. Provided technical assistance via Partners for Fish and Wildlife for stream restoration within the Northeast Gulf Ecosystem. 14. Finalized regional curve development in the Northern Region of Florida and secured significant funds for FY03 to expand to other regions in Florida. 15. Initiated freshwater mussel conservation in the Northeastern Gulf Ecosystem.

Studies on the nutritional value of cassava (Manihot utillisima) peels as energy source in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus fry fed in indoor glass aquaria

This study, though, has as its core objective cost reduction in aquaculture nutrition was equally designed to investigate the value of the peels of cassava (Manihot utillisima) as energy source in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus fry. Three levels of cassava peels diet and a control (100% yellow maize in the carbohydrate mixture) was prepared and tested on O. niloticus fry for ten (10) weeks. The fry with mean weight of 0.32g were grouped fifteen (15) in each of the glass aquaria measuring 60x30x30cm with a maximum capacity of 52 litres of water. The fry were fed twice daily at 10% biomass. Weekly, the fry were weighed to determine the weight increment or otherwise and the quality of feed adjusted accordingly. Water quality parameters like temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen (D.0) were monitored and found to be at desirable level. DT 3 (97 % cassava peels and 3% yellow maize) in the carbohydrate mixture gave the best growth performance. The fry fed, this diet gained mean weight of 1.18g for the period of the experiment. However, the poorest performance in terms of growth was from fry fed the control diet (100%yellow maize in the carbohydrate mixture) fry fed this diet gained mean weight of 0.80 for the duration of the experiment. Analysis of the various growth indices like SGR, PER, FCR and NPU shows that DT3 was the overall best diet with an SGR value of2.40 and FCR of 43.83. However, DT 1 (70% cassava peels and 30% yellow maize) gave the poorest SGR of 1.61 and FCR of 67.58. The difference in weight gain among the fry fed the three levels of cassava peels diet and the control was not statically significant (P>0.05)

An investigation into the value of yam (Dioscorea rotundata) peels as energy source in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus fry fed in indoor glass aquaria

The study was designed to investigate the value of the peels of yam (Dioscorea rotundata) as energy source in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus fry and to investigate the level of inclusion of this peels that will give optimum growth performance. Four diets, three levels of yam peels and a control, was prepared and tested on O. niloticus fry (mean weight of 0.27g) for ten weeks. Fifteen (15) O. niloticus fry were grouped in each of the glass aquaria, measuring 60x30x3Ocm and with a maximum capacity of 52 liters of water. The fry were fed twice daily at 10% biomass. The fry were weighed weekly to determine weight increment or otherwise and the quality of feed was adjusted accordingly. DTl (70% yam peels and 30% yellow maize) in the carbohydrate mixture gave the best performance. The fry fed this diet, gained a mean weight of 1.20g for the period of the experiment. The poorest performance in terms of growth was from fry fed the control diet (100% yellow maize in the carbohydrate mixture). Fry fed this diet gained mean weight of 0.80g for the duration of the experiment. Analysis of the various growth indices like SGR, PER, FCR and NPU shows that DTl was the overall best diet with an SGR value of I. 92 and FCR of 54.10. The difference in weight gain by fry fed the three levels of yam peels diet and the control diet (100% yellow maize) was not statistically significant (P>0.05)