International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biosciences Volume 6, Issue 6, 2019, PP 13-16 ISSN 2394-5885 (Print) and ISSN 2394-5893 (Online)

Preliminary Observations on the Fish Fauna Ofum Dafoug Water Storagedam, South Darfur State, Sudan

Mamoun Makawi Obeida1, Ahmed Al Badawi Adam2*, Mujtaba El Khair Shuaib3 1Ministry of Resources and Fisheries, Administration of General Fisheries and Aquatic resources, Khartoum, Sudan 2General Administration of Fisheries, Fisheries Research Center, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 3Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ResearchCenter, Animal Resources Research Council, Sudan *Corresponding Author: Ahmed Al Badawi Adam, General Administration of Fisheries, Fisheries Research Center, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT Fish were collected from Um Dafoug Dam, South Darfur State of Sudan by using standard Lundgren survey type gill nets of varying mesh size; three beach seine nets of different mesh size; one gill net of 80.0 mm mesh size, in addition to one trammel net, and one long line consisting of 7 hooks. A total number of 13 fish , belonging to 9 families were present in the study area, representing about 11.3% of the total number of 115 fish species of the freshwater fishes recorded Sudan inland waters. The catch was dominated by herbivorous species, such as Labeo coubie, Hyperopisus bebe, Barbus bynni, Schilbe intermedius, Brycinus nurse, and bane bane. Oreochromis niloticus, which was recently introduced in the dam, formed only1.8 % of the total catch. Keywords: Freshwater fishes, gill nets, Nile system, South Darfur State, Um Dafooug Dam

INTRODUCTION Um Dafoug Dam is one of the major dams in Sudan possesses huge sources of surface and the southern Darfur State of Sudan. It was underground water which can be readily constructed in 1997 with the main goal to store exploited for capture fisheries and aquaculture water for drinking purposes of the local production. These include small water bodies population and their livestock. However, the around 10 km2 surface area, such as man-made Dam water was recently used for fishing dam reservoirs, small lakes, seasonal rivers, purposes in order to provide an alternative water storage reservoirs (haffirs), inland flood source of livelihood and income to the local plains, and irrigation canals (Anderson, 1989). population. In 2002, the dam was stocked with Sugunan (1997)stated that the small man-made an indigenous species of fish, namely the Nile impoundments, which were originally Tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus), to enhance the constructed for irrigation, cattle watering and existing fisheries of the dam. multiple community use, constitute the only The aim of this study is to collect basic source of inland fishery in many countries. information on the fish species present in Um However, proper exploitation and management Dafoug Dam to be used as the basis of future of the fishery resources of a water body requires management of a viable subsistence fishery in basic information on the species present in the this remote body of water, as well as water body, their abundance, seasonal variation determining the species with good potential to and potential yield (Bashir, 2007). be used for establishing an aquaculture activity Although the freshwater fish fauna of the Nile in the dam area. and its tributaries within Sudan had been well MATERIALS AND METHODS documented by several workers, including (Abu Gideiri, 1984; Adam, 1986; Ali, 1987; Bailey, Study Area, Collection and Identification of 1993; Khalid; 1990;, Khalid et al., 2002; Fishes Obeida, 2010 and Salih, 1994), yet, very limited Um Dafoug Damis located in the Southern information exist on the fish species Darfur State of Sudan near the border of Sudan composition of the smallman-made dams, water with the Republic of Central Africa. It storage reservoirs (haffirs), seasonal rivers, and liesbetweenlatitude 19‘ °23 N andlongitude 10° large rain pools.

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31‘ E,at anelevation about 487 meters above sea RESULTS level. It covers an estimated total surface area of The catch consisted of a total number of 13 about 13 km2, and stores about 4.0 million cubic meters of water, with an average depth of species of fish belonging to 9 families, about 5.0 meter. representing about 11.3% of the total number of 115 freshwater fish recorded in the inland Fish were collected by conducting experimental waters of the Nile and its tributaries in Sudan fishing using standard Lundgren survey type gill (Bailey, 1993). Four families were represented nets, each consisting of12 mesh panels, of mesh by two species, while the remaining five size 5.6 mm, 25.0 mm, 8.0 mm, 10.0mm, 24.0 families were represented by only one species mm, 29.0 mm, 35.0 mm, 43.0 mm, 55.0 mm, (Table1). The catch was dominated by members 125.0 mm, 155.0 mm and 195.0 mm; and a of Cyprinindae which formed 54.2 % of the total length 3.0 meter and a depth of 1.5 meter.A set catch, followed by members of , of locally made fishing gears was also used, Schilbeidae, Characidae, Cichlidae, Mochokidae, comprising three beach seine nets of 100.0 Clariidae, Polypteridae and Protopteridae, which meter length,1.5 meter depth, and 10 mm, 30 represented 22.8%, 5.3%, 4.8%, 4.0%, 4.0%, mm and 40 mmmesh size; one gill net of 100.0 1.8%, 1.8% and 1.3% of the total catch meter length,1.5 meter depth and 80.0 mm mesh size. In addition, two local fishing gears were respectively (Table 2). used consisting of one trammel net of 50.0 Labeocoubie, Hyperopisus bebe and meter length, 1.5 meter depth and 6.0 cm mesh Barbusbynni were most abundant forming 42.7 size; and one long line consisting of 7 hooks. %, 18.9 %, and11.5 % of the total catch Fish caught were identified down to the species respectively, followed by Schilbe intermedius, level according to Abu Gideiri (1984) and Brycinus nurse and Petrocephalus bane bane Bailey (1993), and were then measured and which formed 5.3%, 4.8 % and 3.9 % of the weighed. Total length (TL)of fish was measured total catch respectively. The remaining species to the nearest millimeter from the tip of the were rare in the catch and their percentage snout to the end of the upper lobe of the caudal composition ranged from 2.2 % (Sarotherodon fin,using a standard measuring board,andtheir galilaeus, Brachy synodontis batensoda) to 1.8 weightwas measured to the nearest 0.1g by % (Oreochromis niloticus, Clarias gariepinus, using Sartorius digital balance (SF-400), and a Synodontis schall, Polypterus senegalus) and dial balance weighing 10Kg. only 1.3 % (Protopterus annectens) (Fig1). Table1. Overall catch composition of fishescaught in Um Dafoug Dam, South Darfur State, Sudan Family No. of genera Species Characidae 1 Brycinus nurse (Rüppell, 1832 Cichlidae 2 Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus,1758) Sarotherodon galilaeus (Linnaeus,1758 Clariidae 1 Clariasgariepinus (Burchell.1822 Cyprinidae 2 Labeo coubie (Rüppell, 1832) Barbus bynni (Forskål, 1775) Mochokidae 2 Synodontisschall (Blochand Schneider,1801) Brachysynodontisbatensoda (Riippell,1832) Mormyridae 2 Petrocephalus bane bane (Lacepède, 1803) Hyperopisus bebe (Lacepède, 1803) Schilbeidae 1 Schilbeintermedius(Rüppell, 1832) Polypteridae 1 Polypterussenegalussenegalus (Cuvier,1829) Protopteridae 1 Protopterusannectens(Owen, 1839) Table2. Percentage composition of fish species present in Um Dafoug Dam, South Darfur State, Sudan Family Species Percentage composition Cyprinidae Labeo coubie 42.7 Barbus bynni 11.5 Mormyridae Petrocephalus bane bane) 3.9 Hyperopisus bebe 18.9 Schilbeidae Schilbe intermedius 5.3 Characidae Brycinus nurse 4.8

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Cichlidae Oreochromis niloticus 1.8 Sarotherodon galilaeus 2.2 Mochokidae Synodontis schall 1.8 Brachy synodontis batensoda 2.2 Clariidae Clarias gariepinus 1.8 Polypteridae Polypterus senegalus senegalus 1.8 Protopteridae Protopterus annectens 1.3 Total 100.0

Figure1. Percentage composition of Fish species in Um Dafoug Dam, South Darfur State, Sudan DISCUSSION dam. It was estimated that over 95 per cent of fish production in Sudan is obtained from the Um Dafoug dam was constructed in South River Nile, its tributaries and associated Darfur State, Sudan, to serve primarily as a swamps, while the smaller water bodies source of drinking water for the local population contribute only a marginalyield to the total catch and their livestock in the dam area. However, it of inland waters (Anderson, 1989). was recently observed that several species of freshwater fishes had populated the dam water. Moreover, the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Hence, it was decided to utilize the dam in a niloticus) had been introduced in the dam since small-scale subsistence fishery to provide an 2002 to augment the local catches in the dam alternative source of livelihood and income to and to serve as a suitable candidate species for the local population inhabiting the dam area. aquaculture in the dam area. In fact, both Traditional fishing had been practiced in the Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gareipinus dam since its construction in 1997. have good potential for aquaculture in Um Dafoug Dam area as these two species are Herbivorous fishes, such as Labeocoubie, considered among the most favored food fishes Hyperopisus bebe, Barbus bynni, Schilbe with good demand in many areas in Sudan. intermedius Brycinus nurse and Petrocephalus They can provide an important source of bane bane) dominated the catch in the Dam livelihood and income, and can contribute water. This may be correlated withthe overflow substantially to alleviating poverty and and flushing of water from the banks of improving the standard of living of the local therivers and swamps near the southern borders population inhabiting Um Dafoug area. of Sudanand the subsequent entry of these fishesinto the dam. These waters areknown to be Despite the recent introduction of the Nile rich in their food content, especially aquatic Tilapia into the dam water, yet, very low catches plants, algae and other micro- and macro- were obtained during the present investigation. vegetation. Hence, these herbivorous fishes This may be due to the heavy fishing of tilapia were able to enter the water of Um Dafoug Dam during the first years of the construction of the with the inflowing water and establish dam, and the significant demand of this fish in themselves in the new lentic environment of the the region neighbouring the dam area.

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However, the main challengeis to maintain the abundance of fish in Jebel Aulia Reservoir on dam water in good condition to enhance its the White Nile. Sudan J. Sci., 11: 161- 175. fisheries through a sound management policy [3] Ali, M. E. (1987). On the fisheries and biology that ensures utilizing the dam water both for of four commercially important fish species drinking purposes, and as a source of sustenance from Lake Nubia, Ph.D. thesis, Department of and generation of income. Zoology, University of Khartoum, 298 pp. [4] Anderson, A. (1989). The development and CONCLUSION management of fisheries in small water bodies. The present investigation was carried out in an In Giasson, M & J. L. Gaudet, eds. Summary of attempt to providebase-lineinformation on the Proceeding and selected papers.Symposium.On fish fauna present in Um Dafoug Dam in South the development and management of fisheries Darfur State of Sudan. The available data could in small water bodies. Accra, Ghana, 7-8 December, 1987. FAO Fisheries Report, 425: be utilized for future development and 15-19. management of this vital water body as a source of livelihood and income for the local [5] Bailly, R. G. (1993). Guide to the fishes of the River Nile in the Republic of Sudan-Divi- population inhabiting this area. This requires Lipscl, King college, London, U. K. that the dam and its environment should be [6] Bashir, M.M.R. (2007). A study on catch properly managed to satisfy the needs of using assessment in the northern part of Jebel Aulia the water for drinking purposes of man and his Reservoir.M. Sc. Thesis, Department of livestock as well as for the development of a Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of small-scale subsistence fishery. Khartoum. Sudan. 103 pp. The results showed that the fish species present [7] Khalid, A.M. (1990). Diversity in fishery in Um Dafoug Dam form part of the freshwater Resource in fresh water Ecosystem Blue Nile, fish fauna present in the southern tributaries of Roseires, Sinnar Reseirvoir. Report, Fisheries the Nile System. It appears that these fishes Research center. were washed into the dam through the over- [8] Khalid, A.M and Adam, A.A. (2002). spilling and flushing of water over the banks of Preliminary Observations on the Ichthyo fauna the rivers near the southern borders of Sudan, and Ichthyo biomass of River Dinder Flood and later established themselves into the dam Plains in Sudan.Direct Res. J. Agric. Food Sci. water and became adapted to the new Vol.4 (12): 326-333. environment of the dam. [9] Obeida, M.M. (2010). On Fish Biology and Fisheries in Jebel Aulia Dam Reservoir (El Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gareipinus hashaba to El nuzul) using Beach Seine Net. possess good potential for fish culture in the M.Sc. Thesis, Natural Resources and dam area, and can contribute significantly to Environmental Studies. University of Juba. fish production, alleviate poverty and improve [10] Salih, H. M. S. (1994). The effects of flushing the standard of living of the local people on the fish community in the Khashm el Girba inhabiting Um Dafoug area. Reservoir, Eastern, Sudan.MPhil.Thesis, REFERENCES Department of fisheries and Marine Biology, University of Bergen, Norway, pp. 72. [1] Abu Gidiri, Y. B. (1984). Fishes of the Sudan. [11] Sugunan, V, V. (1997). Fisheries Management Khartoum University Press, Khartoum, Sudan. of Small Water Bodies in Seven Countries in 164 pp. Africa, Asia and Latin America. FAO Fisheries [2] Adam, A.B. (1986). Distribution and Circular No. 933 FIRI-C933.

Citation: Mamoun Makawi Obeida, Ahmed Al Badawi Adam, Mujtaba El Khair Shuaib, "Preliminary Observations on the Fish Fauna Ofum Dafoug Water Storagedam, South Darfur State, Sudan", International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biosciences, vol. 6, no. 6, pp. 13-16, 2019. Copyright: © 2019 Mamoun Makawi Obeida et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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