1.
Department
of Agricultural Economics and Extension Management
2.
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Introduction
In
spite of covering about 1% of the total land surface, inland waters are habitat
to about 100,000 aquatic species, including 10, 000, or 40% of all fish species
(FAO, 1997). Ever increasing human population places a direct pressure on the
limited resources through increasing demand to meet the basic needs (e.g.,
domestic, drinking and agriculture). In Africa a large proportion of both rural
and urban population live in the vicinity of inland or coastal waters. This trend may be explained by the fact that
traditional human populations have tended to settle close to natural waters
because they offer man’s greatest hopes for food and material supplies.
Leveque and Mounolou (2003) reported
that over large parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America, freshwater fisheries
are a crucially important resource for poor rural families. Fish is rich in
protein and minerals and are highly valued.
Fish are also rich in healthy unsaturated fatty acids that play an
important role in the development of bones, nervous system, and brain in
children.
The
purpose of aquatic environmental assessment is ultimately the maintenance of
biological integrity because fish needs certain optimum conditions for feeding,
breeding, respirations, growth and movement.
Water
conditions that are less than optimal cause slower growth, lower survival and
increased incidence of diseases (Onuoha, 1991; Iles, 2009).The effects of
various physicochemical constituents of water on the biota are well known; The
correlation among the parameters (Ude and Nwani, 2009), the effects of
dissolved oxygen deficiency on fish (Ugwu and Mgbenka, 2006), pH and salinity(Burtner
et al., 1993), temperature (Watson
and Chapman, 2002; Ritcher et al.,
1987), Metals(Davies et al., 1978),
nitrates, nitrites and phosphorus(Ude et
al., 2011).
Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) standards for heavy metals and other constituents in
drinking water (EPA, 2003) are presented below as a guide for assuming the
quality of different water sources within the Local Government. These are as
follows: pH: 6.5 – 8.5; Conductivity: lms/L; Arsenal: 0.05mg/L; Copper:
1.30mg/L; Iron: 0.30mg/L; Lead: 0.000mg/L; TDS: 500mg/L; Manganese: 0.05mg/L;
Sulphate: 250mg/L; Nitrate: 10mg/L; Hardness: 0 to 17.10 (soft hardness), 17.
10 to 60mg/L or ppm (slightly hard), 60 to 120 mg/L (Moderately hard), 120 to
180mg/L (hard), 180 and over mg/L 180 (very hard).
At
the moment there is dearth of information on the physicochemical parameters of
inland waters of Ebonyi North zone which is the economic hub of Ebonyi State,
and their implications on fisheries and aquaculture development. This work aims
at analyzing different inland water systems and generates data on their status
for use in enhancing both capture and culture fish production.
The
water parameters analyzed were pH, conductivity, hardness, and total dissolved
solids (TDS), as well as the chemical elements.
Materials and
Methods
The study area: The study was
carried out at Ebonyi North geopolitical zone. It is located between latitude
060 21′ N and longitude 080 51′ E. The annual rainfall
ranges from 1500 to 1800mm with a temperature range from 210 to 300C
(Ofomata, 1975).
Water
samples were collected during the dry season and analyzed using standard water
analytical methods as prescribed in APHA (1999). The parameters measured were pH,
conductivity, hardness, and total dissolved solids (TDS), as well as the
chemical elements.
References
Quality Criteria for Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA#440/5-86-001, 1986.