Assessment of Suitability of Ero Reservoir and its Environs for Aquaculture Development in Ekiti State, Nigeria

• B.P. Omobepade

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

  Author

• O.J. Omoju

  Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

  Author

• T.O. Ariyomo

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

  Author

• H. Nuhu

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

  Author

• O.E. Olaniyi

  Department of Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria,

  Author

• O.S. Akande

  Centre for Space Research and Applications, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria

  Author

• A.A. Fabusoro

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

  Author

• J.O. Jimoh

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

  Author

• A.M. Akinsorotan

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

  Author

• A.M. Adedapo

  Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

  Author

• O.K. Omolounnu

  Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

  Author

• T.S. Awopetu

  Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

  Author

Reservoirs in Nigeria are primarily constructed for public water supply and characterized by artisanal fishery. Most of the reservoirs are surrounded by large expanse of land that could be utilized for aquaculture. However, utilizing these areas of land for sustainable aquaculture operations requires assessing different soil properties, environmental and climatological factors. Hence, Landsat 8 OLI satellite datasets and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission were acquired to determine the land use type, coverage and the digital elevation model within a 500m buffer. The soil profile was dug at three different locations to a depth of 1.5m and soil were collected at various horizons and analysed for physiochemical properties. Hydrological, soil, land use/cover, vegetation, and elevation parameters were subjected to an analytical hierarchical process to develop a suitability map for aquaculture development in the study area according to standard methods. Suitability model revealed that land mass unsuitable for aquaculture represents 6.07% (89.73 hectares), 359.88 hectares (24.35%) were less suitable, 950.76 hectares (64.33%) were suitable while 77.63 hectares (5.25%) were highly suitable. Hence, individuals and corporate bodies could invest in the suitable areas for aquaculture, which at the long run will increase fish availability, improve livelihood and enhance the economic profile of the State.

1. B.P. Omobepade, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

2. O.J. Omoju, Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

   Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

3. T.O. Ariyomo, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

4. H. Nuhu, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

5. O.E. Olaniyi, Department of Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria,

   Department of Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria,

6. O.S. Akande, Centre for Space Research and Applications, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria

   Centre for Space Research and Applications, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria

7. A.A. Fabusoro, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

8. J.O. Jimoh, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

9. A.M. Akinsorotan, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria,

10. A.M. Adedapo, Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

    Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

11. O.K. Omolounnu, Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

    Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

12. T.S. Awopetu, Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

    Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

• PDF