Diet and trophic status of fish landed by tropical artisanal bait fishers, Mida creek Kenya

• Published in: International journal of marine science 2015-01, Vol.5 (42)
• Main Authors: CM, Kihia, Y, Hendrick, A, Muthumbi, J, Okondo, A, Nthiga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carangidae; Decapoda; Gastropoda; Gerridae; Marine
• ISSN: 1927-6648; 1927-6648
• DOI: 10.5376/ijms.2015.05.0042

Marine overfishing is characterized by trophic cascades, due to selective removal of preferred top carnivores and confronts tropical fisheries managers in the absence of empirical evidence. This study compares the diets and trophic levels of fish landed by bait fishermen at Mida Creek, biosphere reserve, Kenya. Stomach content of fish landed using hook and line, baited with polychaete (choo) and hermit crab (dophe), and basket traps baited with mangrove whelk (tondo), were examined and compared. Results indicate that fish landed, consumed gastropod and fish, hence belong to 2.9th trophic level. Significant difference in trophic level occurred between gear and bait type. Hooks baited with dophe landed a variety of fish with a higher trophic level, such as Carangidae (TL>3.0), compared to other gears that landed lower trophic levels, such as Gerridae. Observed differences were attributed to gear and bait selectivity and differences in fishing grounds exploited. Absence of large top carnivores from landings is attributed to long-term overfishing pressure in nearshore fishing grounds. Additionally dietary overlap in mangrove dependent and creek fishes, landed by trap and hook fishermen, respectively, presents hitherto unexplored impacts.