Study of Mangrove Fish Habitat Utilisation in the Niger Delta Estuary, Bayelsa State

This study investigated patterns of fish habitat utilisation in mangrove-fringed estuarine environments within Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria. Mangroves are ecologically critical habitats serving as nursery grounds, feeding areas, and refugia for diverse fish communities in the Niger Delta. Fish samples were collected using seine nets, fyke traps, and gill nets during both wet and dry seasons at three mangrove stations within the Nun River estuary. A total of 31 fish species from 18 families were recorded, with Gobiidae, Eleotridae, and Cichlidae representing the most abundant groups. Juveniles of commercially important species including Pseudotolithus elongatus, Lutjanus agennes, and Ethmalosa fimbriata were recorded predominantly during the wet season, confirming the nursery function of the mangrove estuary. Species diversity and abundance were significantly higher in intact mangrove stands compared to areas affected by oil spill disturbance. Physicochemical parameters including salinity, temperature, and turbidity were measured concurrently and found to influence species distribution patterns. Deforestation associated with timber extraction and community expansion was recorded at two of three stations. The study confirms the essential ecological role of mangrove habitats for commercially important fish species and underscores the need for mangrove conservation and restoration as a foundation for sustainable coastal fisheries management in the Niger Delta. Keywords: mangrove ecology, fish habitat, Niger Delta, estuarine fisheries, Bayelsa State