Authors : O.R. Oguntade , O.A. Ayinla , A. Oresegun and I. Megbowon
Abstract: This study discusses the biodiversity, management and utilization of West African fish species. Biodiversity is a subject matter of interest to environmentalists, planners, administrators and general public. The most obvious benefit of fish utilization, as food materials posing threats to aquatic biodiversity are changes in land use, pollution, over exploitation, introduction of alien species and global warming and sea level rise. Conservation approach to maintain or sustain the facility of the environment is discussed. There is a wide diversity in West Africa comprising of 1672 fish species from 244 families. However, local knowledge about fish species biodiversity in West Africa is very extensive but difficult to access as they are dispersed in many languages. The general richness and complexity of West African fauna is discussed. The factors responsible for catch decline and the near collapse of several marine and inland fisheries and the resultant genetic resources erosion include over fishing, biophysical changes in habitat degradation and destruction, transfer and introduction of alien species and genotypes, fish culture and its technology improvements and apparently unprecedented climate change. Others are anthropogenic factors such as changes in deforestation, domestic and industrial pollution and urbanization and water development scheme. The importance of using genetic indicators for monitoring the state of environment is discussed. The information base upon which better policies can be made and implemented is increasing and becoming widely available through Internet and databases. This moves give hope for the future of African genetic resources. The management of choice to facilitate aquatic biodiversity is conservation. Ex-situ conservation options, which are captive breeding and genome conservation, are discussed. Legal and international aspects of conservation are also considered important and also convention. The use of indigenous African species for aquaculture development in West Africa is also examined. Hence, the need to make a case for the position of biodiversity management and utilization of fishes of West Africa.
O.R. Oguntade , O.A. Ayinla , A. Oresegun and I. Megbowon , 2007. Biodiversity, Management and Utilization of West African Fisheries . Research Journal of Animal Sciences, 1: 146-158.