Population structure and catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the main stream, Damietta and Rosetta branches of the River Nile, Egypt

Population structure and catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the main
stream, Damietta and Rosetta branches of the River Nile, Egypt
Kariman Ahmed Sh. Shalloof and Alaa Mahmoud El-Far
National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries
Email: [email protected]
Received 3rd October 2009, Accepted 2nd November 2009
Abstract
This paper presents fluctuations in the fish distributions and Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) in the main stream,
Rosetta and Damietta Branches of the River Nile, Egypt during the period from April 2008 till May 2009. The main
fishing gears and methods which were used in the Nile River are Trammel net, Gill nets, Traps and Long-lines.
Average values of CPUE for gill net was lower than trammel net in the three areas of investigation. Damietta Branch
is more productive for trammel net and basket traps. Totally 29 species belonging to 13 fish families along the River
have been recorded .Fluctuations in the occurrence of the different species in the three studied sites were observed.
Fish biodiversity of Rosetta and Damietta Branches was lower than that of the main stream of the River Nile. The
Tilapias (especially O. niloticus) formed the mainstay of the fishery in the main stream and Rosetta Branch,
whereas, T. zillii is the most abundant species in Damietta Branch. Recommendations for proper management of
these selected sectors were recorded in the present study.
Keywords: River Nile, main stream. Rosetta Branch, Damietta Branch, species composition, CPUE