Ichthyofauna and Fishing in the Congo River, DR Congo

Abstract

This study on ichthyofauna and fisheries in the Kindu river region was conducted with the aim of characterizing fishing activities, inventorying fish species and determining the growth of the most captured fish species. A survey and inventories were carried out for nine months, from February to October 2020. For lack of fishing gear, the fish were paid to the  artisanal fishermen working upstream and downstream of the Congo River, who use different capture gears including nets (cast net, drifting, fixed), baited hooks and longlines (bottom and surface). Fish species were identified using identification keys such as Fauna of fresh and brackish water fishes of West Africa, Fishes of the Congolese part of the Inkisi, Fresh and brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, West Central Africa, Fish of the Upper Congo Basin: ichthyological study and establishment of a collection at the University of Kisangani, DR Congo. The fish collected were each time counted and weighed individually in the fresh state using a 0.1 g digital scale of the SCA-301 brand and measured using a 30 cm long ichthyometer. Three measurements were taken from each specimen analyzed, namely: total weight (in g), standard length (in cm) and total length. The standard length is the straight length from the end of the mouth to the end of the most arched caudal peduncle. The results show that the activity of river fishing contributes to the improvement of the living conditions of fishermen by providing income; several fishing gears are used but only the cast net has a higher use (56.2%) by fishermen. The Kindu river region is diversified in fish species in the sense that an identification resulted in 38 species belonging to 14 families. The species Synodontis notatus (9.7%), Labeo senegalensis (7.8%), Distichodus rostratus (5.8%), Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (5.3%) and Auchenoglanis occidentalis (5.3%) are the most captured. Almost all of the most captured fish species have positive allometric growth except Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus which has negative allometry. Condition factors show that the majority of species studied live in good conditions. Thus, it is crucial that fishing is effectively controlled in the environment because this activity contributes to the survival and well-being of the population.