LANDMARK UNIVERSITY SDG 14 2023 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

Post by: bankole
November 7, 2024
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Landmark University, P.M.B.1001, KM4, IPETU ROAD

Omu-Aran, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

‘’I SUPPORT SDG-14 (LIFE BELOW WATER)’’

OPERATIONAL REPORT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL-14 LIFE BELOW WATER FOR THE YEAR 2023

Background Introduction

The SDG-14(Life Below Water) and its sustainability concept on aquatic fauna and flora in both freshwater and marine ecosystems cannot be over-emphasized. As established and recommended by the UN for sustainability of our environment with focused attention on SDG-14 (Life Below Water) provide details classified information and data on the insight of sustainable fishing with the use of organic fishing gears., conservation status of fish species, and reduction of pollution on freshwater and marine aquatic organisms and ecosystems. In Landmark University, our attention is focus on sustainable biodiversity of fisheries resources in freshwater ecosystem where Landmark University Dam played an important and effective role in sustainable freshwater ecosystem drive in the developing nation like Nigeria. Also the sustainable management of the freshwater ecosystem for drinking water utilization and water irrigation for integrated cropping systems with fish. The dam served the entire University community such as staff quarters and students hostel for effective drinking water supply.

General Goals of SDG-14(Life Below Water) in the Year 2023

The achievable goals for SDG-14 in the year 2023 were:

Sustainable use of the dam resources to support future energy drive, and regular support water reticulation; and
Protection and conservation of Biodiversity of Fisheries resources in the dam for sustainable harvesting with the use of organic fishing gears.

The following Activities were carried out in the year 2023

Biodiversity -survey study on valuable fisheries resources on Landmark University dam;
The conservation status of biodiversity of fisheries resources on the dam;
Prevention of theft and overfishing on the dam by poachers and intruders;
Dam served as Internally Generated Revenue for increase economic benefits for the university in terms of fish harvested for sales and possible tourist attraction Centre for visitors;
Landmark University Supporting Aquatic ecosystem efforts through educational outreach by organized lecture for God Grace Secondary School in Omu-Aran community;
SDG-14 series of Meetings on our targeted goals for the year 2023.

DETAIL ACTIVITY ON FISHING OPERATION ON LMU DAM:

TITLE: BIODIVERSITY SURVEY REPORT ON FISHERIES RESOURCE

ASSESSMENT STUDY ON LANDMARK UNIVERSITY DAM, OMU-

ARAN, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Report on Fishing Activities carried out on Landmark University Dam for Convocation and Exhibition for 3 consecutive-day from 15^th May to 18^th May,2023 showcased at the SDG-14 stand at LUCRID meeting centre.

The aim of fishing activities carried out on Landmark University Dam is to harness and harvest the biodiversity of fisheries resources in the dam for convocation exhibition, and to determine the increase in biodiversity of fisheries resources from the after the first and second biodiversity survey on the dam from 2021 to 2023.For the fishing operation, two (2) local fishermen were engaged on the dam for the fishing activities for 3days. Gill nets as a passive fishing gear were used to catch fishes on the dam by the use of a canoe paddled by the two fishermen. The fishing activities involved 3evening and 2afternoon catches. The fishes caught were quickly removed and preserved in the freezer for sorting and identification purpose with the use of identification guide book on freshwater fishes’ species identification.

However, all the fish samples caught were identified with the aid of fish identification guides. A total number of One hundred and four (104) fish were caught and the most abundant of the fish species were from Cichlidae family with Tilapia zillii as the major species that dominated the dam. Other groups of Cichlidae family caught include: Sarotherodon galilaeus (Mango), Sarotherodon melanotheron (Black chin) and Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia). The other fish species caught was from the family of Clariidae, which include: The Silver catfish, (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus) and a wild catfish, Clarias anguilaris. There are two (2) prominent families in the dam: Cichlidae and Clariidae, and seven (7) fish species were caught from the dam.

Observations and recommendations on Fish Species Biodiversity Caught on the LMU dam:

The dominance nature of Cichlidae family (Tilapia) fishes from the fishing activities carried out; showing high species index of their family with low species index of Clariidae family (Catfish), a carnivorous fish family as effective predator to check-mate the high Cichlidae family in the dam which supported the richness in species diversity of Tilapia zilli in the dam.

There is possibility of ecosystem imbalance of the population between the forage(herbivorous) fishes’ family Cichlidae and carnivorous Clariidae family in the dam. Proposed conservation and management plans could be put in place by restocking the existing dam with other fast growing freshwater fish species. The dam could be generating income from fish species harvested and possibly the dam could serve as tourism center for visitors.

In conclusion, there is need for the University Management to develop a robust Fisheries Policy Framework on stoppage of Indiscriminate use or dumping of chemicals or pesticides near the LMU Dam site. Also, possibility of erecting bill boards near the dam site to sign-post as warning to the dumping of chemicals or any waste into the water body. The dam could be -restocked with fast growing fish species with the use of cage culture system on the dam.

Keywords: LMU Dam, Fishermen, Canoe, Fish species

Plate1: Photograph on identification of Fish species caught from the dam in May,2023 and other SDG-14 activities:

Fish species labelled A, B, C, D, E from left to right are: Orechromis niloticus, Sarotherondon galilaeus,Tilapia zillii, Sarotherondon melanotheron and Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus