East African Freshwater Fishery Research Organization Annual Report 1961

The Annual report presents Scientific work carried out during the report year 1961 under the following: Scientific Work of the Organization Fisheries of Lake Victoria Commercial records Population analysis Rational exploitation Other species of Tilapia Small mesh gill net fisheries Bagrus docmac Investigation Lates Investigation Breeding studies on T. zillii & T. nigra The culture of Tilapia in ponds Migration of River Fish Hydrology and Algology Gear Research Buoy releases Vertical gill nets and lastly publications.

East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization Annual Report 1965

Throughout the year the Fisheries Departments of Tanzania and Uganda continued to forward to EAFFRO data on the commercial fisheries of Lake Victoria, particularly statistics of fishing-effort and fish-landings. The Kenya Fisheries Department was re-established at Kisumu towards the end of 1964 and has expanded its activities during 1965; whilst regular records of commercial fishing activity have not been despatched to Jinja, appropriate information has been made available on request from the Chief Fisheries Officer. None of the existing research officers at EAFFRO have been assigned to a detailed survey of the statistical data available, although several officers have taken the opportunity of analysing the data regarding the species considered under their own research programmes. As recorded in the last Annual Report, one important function of the UNDP Lake Victoria Fisheries Research Project will be to undertake the relevant statistical surveys essential to the proper management of the commercial fisheries of Lake Victoria. The level of the lake remained abnormally high but fluctuated somewhat during the year, reaching a maximum in May, but falling to a minimum in October before beginning to rise again with the rains at the end of the twelve-month period. The maximum figure for the year recorded at Jinja: 12.92 ft. above datum did not reach the peak recorded in 1964: 13.33 ft. above datum, which was the maximum reading taken since records were begun in 1899. Scientific work carried out by the organization during the year 1965 included work on the following: Commercial fisheries of Lake Victoria Nile Perch investigations Fisheries surveys in Kenya and Tanzania Studies on anadromous fishes Studies on mormyrid fishes Studies on Tilapia species Studies on Alestes Studies on Haplochromis species

East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization Annual Report 1972

Feeding habits of many animals have been used widely in animal classifications. This is so, because the type of diet an organism requires demands structural specialisation which will utilise the available resource. Many animals may however have many structural modifications to enable them to be described as omnivourous or generalised feeders such as H. empodisma and H. riponianus (GREENWOOD 1960) which may show varying degrees of structural and adaptational intermediacy between two trophic groups. Generally, however, the diet of many animals including fish changes as the animal grow larger. The change in structural modifications is usually correlated with changes in the diet. In fishes the change may involve change from tricuspid to biscuspid and finally to unicuspid type of teeth. The degree of modification in the structure depends on the diet, thus Haplochromis that feeds on soft tissues of snails only requires modifications in oral dentition while Haplochromis that feeds on both soft tissues and shells of snails require modification in the lower pharyngeal bone for grinding purposes. Other modifications connected with food utilisation may be located in the alimentary canal. (I) The fish species that are commercially exploited are Protopterus aethiopicus, Clarias mossambicus, Tilapia esculenta, Tilapia amphimelas and Tilapia hybrids. The other fish species present in the lake but not commercially exploited are: Gnathonemus sp. Alestes sp. Labeo sp., Barbus paludinoses, Barbus jacksoni, Barbus lineomaculatus, Barbus regersi, Leptogrlanis sp., Schilbe sp., Haplochromis spp. and Hemihaplochromis sp. (2) Protopterus sp. and Clarias sp. are mostly caught with hooks on long lines. There has been a steady increase in number of hooks on the lake. Since the stocks of Protopterus and C/arias in the lake have a limit, we should control the number of hooks used by each of the fishermen in order to avoid overharvesting. (3) All the previous studies on Lake Kitangiri fisheries suggested the use of gill nets with mesh size greater than 88.9 mm in order to avoid the capture of immature Ti/apia spp. But if the fishermen are to obtain economic gains from the fishery, the optimum mesh size for use is 88.9 -101.6 mm. (4) The gillnet is a passive gear with very beneficial selective characteristics. Unfortunately the drive-in fishery which exists on Lake Kitangiri more or less destroys the gillnet selectivity characteristics. It is therefore recommended that the beating of water with poles be discouraged and stopped. (5) There is need for provision of stable fishing canoes to replace the unstable bottle palm dug-out canoes which are currently being used and which are very risky to operate. (6) The fish processing facilities on Lake Kitangiri are still inadequate. Most of the fish is sun dried, Since sun drying is very difficult during the rainy season, most fishermen carry out intensive fishing during the dry season, Concentrating most of the fishing effort in anyone season instead of spreading evenly this effort over the whole year could damage the age structure of the exploitable stocks. (7) There are considerable fluctuations in the volume of water of the lake. The feasibility of regulating the water loss through the effluent Sibiti river should be investigated by the Water Development Department. (8) Damming the Sibiti river is an expensive undertaking and therefore, the Rural Development Bank of Tanzania should be asked to assess the economic feasibility of such a project.

Guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Supplement 4

In the present supplement, where records in the past have been few in a group, new records are given of localities both as regards species previously recorded from Sri Lanka and especially for new records. This gives the new records more standing and may enable others to collect these species. Over 50 species are recorded for the first time in Sri Lanka. A general survey of the freshwater fauna is attempted. This is intended to give an indication of the groups as regards their numerical status in species and the extent to which different groups have been investigated. Using this data on the invertebrate fauna, the prospects for introduction of invertebrates is discussed.

Results of the Austrian-Ceylonese hydrobiological mission 1970 of the 1st Zoological Institute University of Vienna (Austria) and the Department of Zoology of the University of Ceylon, Vidyalankara Campus, Kelaniya (Sri Lanka). Pt 17. The freshwater gastropods of Ceylon

In the present study the specimens collected by the Austrian-Ceylones hydrobiological mission 1970 are described. The freshwater gastropods in this study were collected from 100 different localities, mostly running waters, but some were also collected from stagnant waters like pools, irrigated paddy fields, swamps and water reservoirs (tanks). Listed from these localities are 31 species (and subspecies) 28 species are Streptoneura (=Prosobranchia), 3 species are Euthyneura-Pulmonata Basommatophora.

East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization Annual Report 1966

Scientific work of the organization covered in the Annual Report include: Commercial fisheries of Lake Victoria, Nile Perch investigations , Fisheries surveys in Kenya and Tanzania, Studies on anadromous fishes, Studies on mormyrid fishes , Studies on Tilapia species and Studies on Halplochromis species

The freshwater zooplankton of Sri Lanka, with a discussion of tropical freshwater zooplankton composition

Based on the study of over 500 zooplankton samples collected in Sri Lanka during 1965-1974, the species composition from different habitats is analysed. The zooplankton assemblage is typically tropical with relatively few species of Cladocera and Copepoda. The Rotifera include a large number of species of the genus Brachionus. The limnetic zooplankton resembles the pond zooplankton closely in that all the eurytopic species found in the different types of habitats, including ponds; also occur in the limnetic zooplankton. The large Cladocera belonging to the genus Daphnia are very rare. In general, large zooplankters are absent. The size composition of the zooplankton has a smaller range than in temperate regions. This is due to the absence of large-sized zooplankton species. The reasons for the differences in species variety and size composition between zooplankton of temperate and tropical regions is perhaps due to a number of factors. These include the effects of high and uniform temperatures, food availability and predation by fish and invertebrates.

Induced spawning of two major species of Chinese carps, Ctenopharyngodon idellus and Aristychthys nobilis in Sri Lanka

Induced spawning of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) and bighead carp (Aristychthys nobilis) was carried out successfully in Sri Lanka for the first time in 1977 and 1978, respectively. This article describes the techniques involved in induced spawning in Sri Lanka at the Freshwater Fish Breeding and Experimental Station in Udawalawa.

Scale structure, age and growth in the freshwater carp, Labeo calbasu (Pisces/Cyprinidae) from Harike wetland, India

Age structure and growth profile based on the scale studies of 468 specimens ranging from 17-62 cm total length of Labeo calbasu (Hamilton) from Harike wetland (30°13'N, 75°12'E), Punjab, India have been described, the present study showed better growth in terms of two important growth parameters namely index of species average size and population weight-growth intensity. Two distinct phases in its life history have been described that indicates the optimum exploitation of this species from this water body. Harvestable size is found to be fish of 34 cm total length. The detailed structural elaboration of scale (normal, regenerated, lateral line) has also been done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Analysis of lipid and lipid-fractions of some freshwater fishes and their inter-relationship

Two fish species each from carnivorous (Clarias batrachus, Channa punctatus), omnivorous (Cyprinus carpio, Cirrhinus reba), and plankton feeder (Catla catla, Labeo rohita) were collected from freshwater sources under natural habitat to study their total lipid (TL) and lipid-fractions. Significant relationship between these parameters was also worked out. The variation of total lipid and lipid-fractions in tissues of freshwater fishes were not significantly different (P>0.05). But a higher trend of total lipid and glyceride (TGL) contents were found in carnivores followed by omnivores and least in plankton feeders. The trend was reverse for total phospholipid, cholesterol and free fatty acids. TGL content in all class of fishes was significantly related with TL (P<0.01), phospholipid (PL) (P<0.001), cholesterol (P<0.05), free fatty acids (P<0.05) and monoglycerides (P<0.001). Similarly total lipid was linearly related with total glycerides (TL=-3.02 + 0.10 TGL) and phospholipid (TL=7.13-0.12 PL). From this study it is concluded that almost all lipid-fractions of freshwater fishes can be predicted easily from total lipid content of the tissue.

Incidence of epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) in freshwater fishes in the endemic area of Punjab, Pakistan

Incidence of Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS) has been recorded for the first time in freshwater fishes in the endemic area of Punjab, Pakistan. Survey of private fish farms, hatchery and natural water bodies was conducted in a radius of 14 Km from around river Ravi near Lahore (Punjab Province) Pakistan. Out Of 1628 fishes belonging to 18 genera, 517 fishes of 10 genera were found affected with EUS. The incidence of EUS in culturable fishes was higher in Cirrhina mrigala (15.4%) moderate in Catla cat/a (13.3%) and lower in Labeo rohita (5.0%). Exotic fish, Chinese carp Ctenoparyngodon idella and Hypophthalmicthys molitrix were not affected with EUS. In non-culturable fishes the incidence of EUS was highest in Channa punctatus (72.8%) moderate in by C. straitus (65.45%) and comparatively lower Puntius ticto (43.7%). A slow growing temperature sensitive Saprolegnia spp. was isolated from all of EUS infected fish species. Aeromonas spp. and Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from the diseased fishes. Ectoparasites viz. Lernaea, Argulus and Triclwdina spp. were also isolated from the skin and gills of infected fish species. The disease was more severe in water having low alkalinity (70 mg/1), hardness (75 mg/1) and low temperature of 10-12 °C.

The potential of mixed culture of freshwater giant prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii de Man and tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon Fab. at Khulna region, Bangladesh

The freshwater giant prawn (golda), Macrobrachium rosenbergii and tiger shrimp (bagda), Penaeus monodon were stocked together with or without fin fishes at different stocking rates in semi-saline waters at Khulna region and their growth, survival, yield and costreturn analysis were made. Survival rate of golda and bagda ranged from 23.0 to 36.8% and 8.2 to 24%, respectively. The both species were significantly affected by their own stocking density. The average final weight of golda and bagda ranged from 62.4 to 73.3 g and 32.0 to 66.4 g. The bivariate analysis of average final weight of both golda and bagda revealed that golda positively and bagda negatively influenced by the total stocking density. However, the results of the individual sizes of both golda and bagda showed an increase in the proportions of smaller animals and a decrease in the proportion of larger ones with increasing stocking rates. The harvesting weights of all animals in the experimental ghers were in marketable sizes although their prices varied with the individual size. The total production comprised of both golda and bagda ranged from 514.6 to 952.8 kg ha·1, over a culture period of 10 months. Return on investment ranged from 51.0 to 125.7%.

Polyculture of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, de Man with carps: effects of prawn stocking density

Effects of three stocking densities, viz., 35, 50 and 65/decimal (1 decimal = 40.48 m2) of juvenile freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) on prawn and fish production were tested in a polycuture system with silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), catla (Catla catla), Grass carp (Ctenophmyngodon idella) and silver barb (Barbodes gonionotus). The fish stocking density was 19/decimal with the species combination of silver carp-10, catlac-6, grass carp-1 and silver barb-2. In a 8-month culture period, the prawn yield 423 ± 144 kg/ha was significantly lower (P< 0.5) with the prawn stocking density of 35/decimal than that of 548 ± 178 kg/ha and 662 ± 243 kg/ha with 50 and 65/decimal respectively. The fish production (1844-1891 kg/ha) did not differ significantly (p <0.05) among the three treatments indicating that prawn stocking densities had no influence on fish yield. The lower mean harvest weight (62 g) and survival rate (67 g) and higher yield (2.67 kg/decimal) with the highest stocking rate of prawn reveals that as density was increased, prawn survival and individual weight at harvest decreased but total yield increased.

Effect of delayed icing on quality changes and shelf-life of some freshwater fish from Bangladesh

The quality and shelf-life of three freshwater fish species of Bangladesh, catla (Catla catla), magur (Clarias batrachus) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) stored at room temperature and ice were evaluated. Live fishes were killed by cranial spiking and stored at room temperature (27-30 °C), ice stored immediately after death, 5 hr after death and 10 hr after death. The shelf-life and quality of the fishes were evaluated by organoleptic method, rigor-mortis studies and bacteriological assessment. Fishes kept at room temperature became organoleptically unacceptable within 16-20 hr duration. Ice stored fishes showed considerable differences in their shelf-life when icing was delayed for different duration. Shelf-life of catla ice stored immediately after death was 20 days but shelf-life reduced to 12 days when icing delayed for 10 hr after death. Similar trend was observed for two other fish species magur and tilapia. Rigor-index of the fishes stored under different conditions also considerably varied among the three fish species, particularly effect of delayed icing was very much evident. Bacteriological study showed patterns of Aerobic Plate Count (APC) at the end of shelflife study when fishes became organoleptically unacceptable were more or less similar for all the three fish species stored under different conditions. No definite pattern was observed in the generic distribution of bacteria in different fish species under different storage conditions. Micrococcus, Coryneforms, Pseudomonas and Achromobacter were the dominant groups of bacteria isolated from the fishes spoiled at room temperature and ice stored condition.

Reproductive biology of freshwater crab, Paratelphusa spinigera, Wood Mason (Crustacea-Decapoda)

This study was aimed to analyze the annual reproductive cycle of the freshwater crab Paratelphusa spinigera (Wood Mason, 1871). P. spinigera breeds only once in a year; hence, it is a monovoltine species. Gonad maturation, changes in abdomen shape, size and female maturity index (FMI) marked the onset of sexual maturity of female P. spinigera. The occurrence of berried females marked the onset of breeding season. The fecundity of P. spinigera ranged from 533 to 1306 in number, with an average of 699.11 ± 217.38. The correlation of fecundity with carapace width and body weight was also found to be positively significant (r = 0. 780 and 0.933, respectively). The eggs were carried on the pleopods and nurtured for approximately 30-35 days, until the eggs hatch, showing perfect maternal care. The FMI values ranging between 0.70 and 0.80 represented immature stage of gonadal development. When the FMI ranged from 0.91 to 1.00, all stages of gonadal development, i.e. developing, maturing and mature stages were observed. The females with fully ripe ovary had FMI values greater than 1.00.