5TH International Congress on Technology - Engineering & Science - Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia (2018-02-01)

Impact Of The Introduction Of Fish In Al Rahad Turda On The Fishermen And Fishing Activity

The present study was conducted at Al Rahad Turda North Kordofan State, Sudan. Al Rahad Turda is one of the most important water bodies in North Kordofan. Prior to fish introduction in 2010, Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fish in small sizes together with Hetrotis niloticus were the only species found in Turda. In 2010 Western Sudan Resource Management Program (IFAD) introduced 33,000 fish, of Oreochromis niloticus, Lates niloticus, Clarias gariepinus and Bagrus bagrus in Al Rahad Turda. The main target of this study was to investigate the impact of fish introduction in Al Rahad Turda on the fishermen and fishing activity. A cross sectional survey was conducted during February - April 2017 where a total of hundred fishermen were investigated using structured questionnaire. Resource persons were also interviewed and a camera was used to document the researcher observation. Descriptive statistics was employed to analyze the data. The study revealed that fish introduction had significant impact (P<0.05) on fishermen and fishing activity .The number of the fishermen increased after introduction of fish. Practicing fishing in the Turda is back dated to more than 20 years but recently large number of people (60% of the investigated fishermen) started their fishing activities in less than seven years .New site of fishing namely Samaha was created which encompasses more that 50% of the fishermen. Fish introduction acted to generate more job opportunity especially for those of low education and youth mostly of the age group (21-30) year. . Before introduction, for some people fishing was not the main job but after introduction all of the investigated individuals practice fishing as a main job. Fish introduction acted to build the capacity of the fishermen through training courses and also raised their awareness to preserve their fish resources by using suitable nets. They also tend to organized in cooperative societies. Based on chi square test, with the exception of the type and ownership of fishing crafts before and after introduction (P>0.05) there is significant (p> 0.05) change in all aspect of the fishing activity studied. After introduction new types of boats made of wood and iron were introduced beside the traditional made of Taroor. Seine nets were completely prohibited after introduction whereas other traditional nets namely Umm kobok, Alsaryma and the Iron mish nets had already been prohibited before introduction. The study concluded that the experience of fish introduction in Al Rahad turda have a great positive impact the fishermen community and fishing activity and recommend the expansion of this experience to other water bodies in the country.
F.H.E. Edrees, T-E.E. Angara