| dc.description.abstract | he influence of gill net, purse seine and beach seine gears was assessed on the basis of water physicochemical
parameters. The study considered a total of seven water quality parameters viz. Dissolved oxygen (DO),
salinity, conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), pH, Secchi depth and water temperature. Longitudinal study design
was used representing dry and wet seasons. The sampling sites were selected on the basis of their relevance as exclusive
gill net, purse seine and beach seine fishing sites and control where no fishing activity was taking place. Physicochemical
parameters were determined in situ. The data generated was analyzed using one-way ANOVA at p<0.05 and
Student’s t-Test at p<0.05 to establish spatial and seasonal mean variation of physico-chemical parameters respectively.
Correlational analysis was done to establish the relationship among physico-chemical parameters (p<0.05). Results
indicated that temperature, DO, salinity, conductivity, TDS, pH, and Secchi depth were significantly different in sites
where gill net, purse seine and beach seine gears were used including control sites (ANOVA, p<0.05). Salinity,
conductivity, TDS, pH and Secchi depth varied seasonally (Student’s t-Test, p<0.05) but not dissolved oxygen and
temperature. Correlational analysis showed significant correlation of salinity to Total Dissolved Solids (p<0.01, r=0.830)
and conductivity (p<0.01, r=0.927). This study revealed that salinity and conductivity values decreased spatially and
seasonally towards the mouth of Ferguson’s gulf. The use of purse seine gears led to increased dissolved osygen while
gill net sites had high Total dissolved solids. The study recommends monitoring of water quality parameters for fish
survival and ecosystem health | en_US |
