Author(s): Getachew Senbete

Abstract: Lake Beseka is a gradually expanding lake colonized by Nile crocodile decades ago. The saline lake Beseka has both crocodile and fish resource although crocodile resources is devoid due attention. Day and night count of crocodile was conducted on Lake Beseka during May 2008with the objective to estimate crocodile population of the lake whereas gear selectivity study for fishery was conducted during April 2005 to march 2006 using 75 m long gillnets of 60, 80,100 and 120mm stretched mesh and long line with hook size 5,6,7,and 8 each. Oreochromis niloticus and Claries gariepinus are the two fish species recorded from the catch. 50.40% by weight of the gillnet catch was Oreochromis niloticus whereas 99.2% of the long line catch was Claries gariepinus. For the crocodile survey, the lake was stratified in to zones based on the shoreline habitat characteristics. A total of 686 crocodiles were counted from 11 zones of the lake during the survey of which 1-2m long young crocodiles accounted for 67.9% whereas the bigger (2-3 m long) were 21.7%. Moreover, the riparian communities and fishermen have responded that crocodile population of the lake is increasing from time to time. Generally, the survey report indicated that the lake has plenty of crocodile resources which are not yet utilized. Therefore, attention should be given in management and sustainable utilization of this resource.

Pages: 308-311  |  1702 Views  292 Downloads

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