International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.52, 1-5
4
Water of the southern marshes of Iraq originates from both Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and that of the marshes
near Thiqar province has Euphrates River origin. Shatt al-Basrah canal is a water way that connects the greater
marsh area with the north-west corner of the Arabian Gulf. Through this canal, marine fish species gained
entrance to the southern marsh area and might reach localities away from their marine environment further north
into Mesopotamia (Coad, 2010; Jawad, 2012). Fishermen operating at Shatt al-Basrah Canal also fish at the
southern reaches of the marshes and commune between the two regions daily. During their fishing operations,
they use the same fishing gears. Such practice might act as a transport agency for eggs and larvae that might
survive in the damp areas of the fishing gear the short journey from Shatt al-Basrah Canal to the marsh area which
is about 5Km (Jawad, 2006). This type of transfer which aid invasion has been documented in several countries
such as in Australia (Linterman, 2004), which gives a potential for the transfer of eggs on nets. In New Zealand,
fishes were found to spawn on fishing nets (McDowall, 1996). Therefore, it is very important to make sure that
the fishing nets are clean before using it in another water body.
Absence of efficient ichthyological survey may hinder the appearance of
Acentrogobius dayi
from the marsh area.
Previously, inappropriate fishing gear and less geographical areas surveyed might be behind the appearance of this
species in the area. With the widening the investigation area due to research programs helps in recording several
invasive species both marine and freshwater (Coad, 2009; Mohamed et al., 2009; Al-Faisal and Mutlak, 2014).
Also, the use of appropriate fish sampling methodologies such as electric fishing (Al-Dubaikel, 2011) has already
repudiated the presumed rarity of several species in other water bodies within the area (Jawad et al., 2010; Ziyadi
et al., 2015). Indeed, the present record of
Acentrogobius dayi
from the marsh area represents a significant
contribution to the study of zoogeographical patterns within this area of Iraq.
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