| dc.description.abstract | Hay, C.J., Næsje, T.F., Kapirika, S. Koekemoer, J.H., Strand, R., Thorstad, E.B. & Hårsaker, K. 2002. Fish populations, gill net catches and gill net selectivity in the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers, Namibia, from 1997 to 2000. NINA Project Report 017: 1-88.
Objective
The objective of this report is to provide baseline information about the fish resources in the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers to form the biological foundation for recommendations for a sustainable management of the fisheries. Based on fish survey data from the period 1997-2000, the fish resources are described through studies of species diversity, relative importance of the different species, life history parameters, catch per unit effort and selectivity of gill nets.
Methods
Fish were collected in five areas (Katima Mulilo, Kalimbeza, Lake Lisikili, Impalila and Kabula Bula) with survey gill nets (multi-filament, 22–150 mm stretched mesh size) and ten other sampling methods, such as seine nets, cast nets, electrofishing apparatus and rotenone. These are collectively called ”other gears” in this report. The gill nets were used to survey open, deep water habitats (> 1 m) in the main stream near the shore and deep backwater areas with some aquatic vegetation. The other gears targeted mainly small species and juveniles of long-lived species in shallow, vegetated and rocky habitats. Nordic multi mesh sized mono-filament gill nets were included during the survey in 2000 to improve sampling in the deep-water habitats and of the smaller species. Furthermore, fish caught during a fishing competition were sampled in 2000 to include biological data from larger specimens. Data from sampling with Nordic nets and the fishing competition were only included in the life history analyses of selected species, and not in other analyses. The restrictive use of these data ensures comparable data sets with previously reported Okavango River surveys, where these methods were not used (Hay et al. 2000)
Surveys were carried out three years in the spring during 1997-2000 and three years in the autumn during 1997-1999. A total of 66875 fish were sampled, 39852 in gill nets, 7005 in Nordic nets, 562 during the fishing competition and 19456 with other gears. The most important species in the survey catches were identified by using an index of relative importance (IRI), which is a measure of the relative abundance or commonness of the species based on number and weight of individuals in catches, as well as their frequency of occurrence. Seventeen of the most important species collected were selected for a more
detailed analysis of life history and gill net selectivity.
Results
A total of 69 fish species were recorded during the surveys, in addition to unidentified Synodontis species. Due to difficulties with the taxonomic classification in the Synodontis spp. group, these species have been pooled, except the easily recognised Synodontis nigromaculatus. Seven Synodontis species have previously been listed for the Zambezi River, thus there may be up to six Synodontis species in the pooled Synodontis spp. group. The fish families represented with the highest number of species were the Cyprinidae and the Cichlidae, with 20 and 17 species, respectively.
Six species were considered to be habitat specialists, which means their life history activities are confined to specific habitats, and that they required particular effort and equipment for collection. The habitat specialists recorded were Barbus codringtonii, Nannocharax macropterus, Leptoglanis cf dorae, Clariallabes platyprosopos, Chiloglanis fasciatus and Chiloglanis neumanni. Four of the species were difficult to find, whereas C. platyprosopos was common in its habitat.
Low numbers of Barbus kerstenii and Clarias stappersii were caught. These species are, therefore, also considered rare in the Namibian part of the Zambezi/Chobe Rivers.
Fourty species were caught in the gill nets (excluding Synodontis spp.). The ten most important species constituted 96 % of the total IRI. The two most important species (Brycinus lateralis and Schilbe intermedius) contributed to 73 % of the total IRI. The Characidae was the most important family in the gill net catches according to IRI (56 %), whereas the Cichlidae family constituted only a small part (2 %).
Sixty-seven species were caught with the other gears (excluding Synodontis spp.). The ten most important
species constituted 74 % of the total IRI. The two most important species (Tilapia sparmanni and Pharyngochromis acuticeps) contributed to 30 % of the total IRI. In contrast to the gill net catches, the Cichlidae was the most important family in catches with other gears, according to IRI (58
%). The species diversity was higher for the catches with other gears than with gill nets, which is attributed to the flexibility of the other gears, and that a much wider range of habitats was sampled.
Thirty-six species were caught with gill nets at Kalimbeza, 33 species at both Kabula-Bula and Lake Lisikili, 28 species at Katima Mulilo and 24 species at Impalila (excluding Synodontis spp). Generally, ranking of the ten most important species in the gill net catches were corresponding at the different stations. When listing the ten most important species according to IRI at the five stations, only 15 species were represented in total. According to IRI, B. lateralis and S. intermedius dominated the gill net catches at all stations, with the exception of the Lake Lisikili, where Petrocephalus catostoma contributed more in number and weight than S. intermedius. Species diversity in the gill net catches measured as the Shannon diversity index differed among stations, with the highest diversity in the Lake Lisikili and the lowest at Katima Mulilo. The year round presence of vegetation and lenthic conditions may have
contributed to the high species diversity in the Lake Lisikili. All the other stations included main stream habitats that usually yielded a lower catch and less variability in species. Hydrocynus vittatus was absent at Kabula-Bula in the Chobe River, both in gill net catches and in catches with other gears. The backwater habitat at Kabula-Bula is considered less favourable for H. vittatus.
Among the ten most important species according to IRI, nine species were on the list both during high and low water. B. lateralis dominated the gill net catches during both periods. Water level had little effect on the species diversity in the gill net catches. However, three species had a marked decrease in the IRI from the high to the low water period, whereas six species had a marked increase.
The body length of the fish caught was up to 92 cm. The modal length of fish caught in gill nets was 8.0-8.9 cm, whereas for fish caught with the other gears 3.0-3.9 cm. Thus, larger fish were caught with gill nets than with other gears, and this was true both for the species combined and for individual species. Twenty of the species caught had a maximum body length of 6 cm or smaller.
Of the selected species, twelve species had a minimum length at maturity smaller than 10 cm, two species
between 11 and 20 cm and two species larger than 20 cm. The minimum length at maturity was larger than or similar to the smallest fish caught with gill nets in all the selected species, except for both sexes of M. acutidens and males of P. catostoma. The length at 50 % maturity was larger than the minimum length of fish caught with gill nets for all the species of which 50 % maturity could be determined.
The 17 species selected for a more detailed data analysis, contributed to 93 % of the biomass of fish caught with gill nets and 56 % of the biomass of fish caught with other gears (one of the selected species was never caught in gill nets). These species represented a large variation in biology, distribution and sizes. Measured as numbers of fish caught per setting, the smaller gill net mesh sizes were the
most effective in catching these species. For nine of the species, catch per unit effort in numbers was highest for the 22 or 28 mm mesh size, and for three of the species the 35 mm mesh size. Only two species were most effectively caught in the larger mesh sizes (57 and 73 mm). Measured as weight per setting, larger mesh sizes were nina Project Report 017 more effective; six species were most effectively caught in the 22-28 mm mesh size, five species in the 35-45 mm mesh size and five species in the 57-150 mm mesh size. For all species combined, the 28 mm mesh size was the most effective measured both as numbers of fish caught and weight per setting.
The Lake Lisikili station showed the highest catch per unit effort, both in terms of number of fish caught and weight. The lake resembles a large backwater habitat, especially during flood, which may increase the productivity of the area. The lowest catch per unit effort in both number and weight was at Katima Mulilo, where the main stream habitat dominates. Main stream habitats are usually less productive than backwater and floodplain habitats.
The results did not show an unambiguous relationship between the catch per unit effort, habitat (mainstream versus backwater) and water level (low water versus high water). Statistical analyses were carried out in all cases where comparable data for all mesh sizes existed, separating the effects of station, habitat and water level. Furthermore, comparisons were made for small mesh sizes (22 to 35 mm) and large mesh sizes (45 to 73 mm) separately, and for catch per unit effort measured in numbers and weight separately. Backwaters had in all cases a significantly higher catch per unit effort than the mainstream -
or no differences between backwaters and the mainstream were found. Regarding high and low water, no particular pattern could be seen.
Conclusions
The results from the surveys in the Zambezi/Chobe Rivers were compared with previous studies in the Okavango River (Hay et al. 2000). Generally, the fish fauna in the Zambezi/Chobe and Okavango Rivers showed great similarities, and there is a considerable overlap in the distribution of species between the rivers.
The complex and diverse nature of the fish fauna in the Namibian part of the Upper Zambezi has been revealed through the present surveys. However, detailed knowledge on the biology and behaviour of most of the species are still lacking. Basic information on life history, reproduction, movements, habitat preferences and habitat utilisation of target species is needed to regulate the fishery among the
different countries and exploitation methods, and to evaluate the possible benefits of nature reserves and sanctuaries. The Upper Zambezi is presently still relatively undisturbed by human impacts. For that reason alone, this system should be better studied to provide a baseline for future manipulations. | nb_NO |
