Fish Diversity of Awara Reservoir, Ondo State, Nigeria

For the purpose of good management and sustainability of fishery resources of Awara Reservoir, Ondo State, Nigeria, an adequate knowledge of species composition, abundance and sex distribution of the fish species must be understood. A study of fish species composition in this water body was carried out between January, 2010 and June, 2010. Fish samples were collected from the fisherman operating in the reservoir. The results of the study showed that 10 fish species belonging to four families were recorded. Two families, Cichlidae, 52.6% and Clariidae, 36.2%, constituted the dominant fish families in the reservoir. Among the Cichlidae, Sarotherodon galilaeus, 40.5% and among the Clariidae family, Clarias gariepinus, 18.3% were dominant. Other fish species with significant abundance were Heterobranchus bidorsalis 6.8%, Heterobranchus longifilis 6.3%, Mormyrus macropthalmus 6.3%, Clarias anguillaris 4.8%, Barbus nigeriensis 4.8%. The morphometric feature of the two most abundant fish species are Sarotherodon galilaeus, total length 129mm, standard length 108mm, body weight 508g. Clarias gariepinus, total length 318mm, standard length 298mm, body weight 1138g. The dominance of Cichlid and Clariid fish species indicates high fish production potential of Awara Reservoir under good management.