Multi-mesh gillnets to estimate species composition and catch per unit effort of fish in a small water body in Zambia |
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Authors: | N S Mattson † J C Mutales ‡ |
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Institution: | ALCOM-GCP/INT/436/SWE, P.O. Box 3730, Harare, Zimbabwe;P.O. Box 510738, Chipata, Zambia |
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Abstract: | A standard method comprising multi-mesh monofilament nylon gillnets and depth stratification, the Drottningholm method, was employed in test fishing of a small Zambian reservoir (32 ha) on eight occasions over 1 year. The catch per unit effort (cpue) from the 0–3 and 3–6 m zone was timated with benthic and pelagic nets, while in the 6–12 m zone only benthic nets were used. Results include species caught and cpue with coefficients of variation and confidence intervals, for net types and depth zones. A total of 11 species were caught, of which Burbus paludinosus , B. marequensis , Laheo cylindricus , and Oreochromis sp. dominated. Coefficients of variation did not indicate a preferable season for test fishing. During the cold season some species were not caught. The applicability of the method in estimation of species composition and cpue is discussed. |
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Keywords: | cpue fresh water gillnets reservoir sampling method small water body Zambia |
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