International Journal of Aquaculture, 2018, Vol.8, No.13, 98-103
98
Research Report Open Access
Some Biological Parameters of the Three Commercially Important Fishes in
Ethiopian Water Bodies: a Review
Agumassie Tesfahun
Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Ambo University, P. O. Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia
Corresponding author Email
International Journal of Aquaculture, 2018, Vol.8, No.13 doi
Received: 20 Apr., 2018
Accepted: 09 May, 2018
Published: 18 May, 2018
Copyright © 2018
Tesfahun, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article
:
Tesfahun A., 2018, Some biological parameters of the three commercially important fishes in Ethiopian water bodies: a review, International Journal of
Aquaculture, 8(13): 98-103 (doi
Abstract
The findings on length-weight relationship and condition factor of the native
Varicorhinus beso
, endemic
Labeobarbus
nedgia
and the African catfish
Clarias gariepinus
showed varied pattern in different water bodies of Ethiopia.
Labeobarbus nedgia
and
Clarias gariepinus
showed isometric growth pattern in most water bodies of Ethiopia. The African scarping feeder
V. beso
had
positive allometric growth pattern in some of Ethiopian Rivers (Dura and Ardi). But, isometric growth pattern was recorded in
Beshilo River for the same fish species.
Varicorhinus beso
and
L. nedgia
had better body condition than
C. gariepinus
in all water
bodies. Generally, the length-weight relationship and condition factor of fishes is correlated with availability of food, feeding rate,
gonad development, spawning period, water quality parameters can determine the growth rate and the condition of fishes and
therefore, further study is required regarding on the variations of length weight relationship and condition factor are they controlled
by genes or human induced environmental factors for sustainable fishery activities in aquaculture or wild fishing.
Keywords
Allometric growth; Biological parameters;
Clarias gariepinus
;
Labeobarbus nedgia
;
Varicorhinus beso
Background
The African scarping feeder
Varicorhinus beso
is native to Ethiopia and widely distributed in other water bodies
of Ethiopia (Getahun, 2010). It is distributed in the Abay basin, Awash River systems, Lake Tana, Blue Nile and
Tekeze basin part of Ethiopia (Getahun, 2010; Vijverberg et al., 2012; Awoke, 2015). Particularly, it is widely
distributed in upper head of Blue Nile, Beles, Gilgel Beles, Ardi, Beshilo, Gendwuha, Guang, Shinfa, Ayima,
Angereb, Sanja Rivers and Tekeze Reservoir (Berie, 2007; Beletew, 2007; Awoke, 2015).
Labeobarbus nedgia
is
endemic to Lake Tana and widely distributed in other water bodies of Ethiopia (Nagelkerke and Sibbing, 1997). It
is distributed in the Abay basin and Tekeze basin part of Ethiopia, of which Lake Tana harbors the largest number
of big barb species (Vijverberg et al., 2012; Awoke, 2015). Particularly, it is widely distributed in upper head of
Blue Nile, Beles, Gilgel Beles, Ardi, Beshilo, Gendwuha, Guang, Shinfa, Ayima, Angereb, Sanja Rivers and
Tekeze Reservoir (Berie, 2007; Beletew, 2007; Awoke, 2015).
Labeobarbus
species were commercially important
by including
Labeobarbus nedgia
and therefore collectively they contributed 63 kg/trip in 1993, 28 kg/trip in
2001 and 6 kg/trip in 2010 in Lake Tana (Dejen et al., 2017). The African catfish
Clarias gariepinus
is widely
distributed in African freshwater and Middle East (Clay, 1979; Viveen et al., 1986; Spataru et al., 1987). In
Ethiopia, it is widely distributed almost in all water bodies such as in the rift valley, Abay, Awash, Baro-Akobo,
Omo-Gibe, Tekeze and Wabishebele-Genale basins (Golubtsov and Mina, 2003; Awoke, 2015). It also
contributes to the Ethiopian capture fisheries (Reyntjens and Wudneh, 1998).
Length-weight relationship (LWR) is very important for proper fish utilization and management of the fish
population and it is possible to estimate the average weight of fishes at a given length (Lawson et al., 2013).
Furthermore, the length-weight relationships among the fish population indicates that their wellness (Hamid et al.,
2015). The difference in length-weight is obtained by the biotic and abiotic environmental factors as well as the
trophic status of a given aquatic ecosystem. Condition factor is good parameter that shows the wellbeing of fishes
in their natural habitat or in aquaculture and it is represented as by the coefficient of body condition. It is an
indicator of different biological and ecological factors in relation to fishes feeding habits (Nehemia et al., 2012).
