Systematic inventory of fresh fish sold in the Central market of Yakoma (Nord-Ubangi Province) in Democratic Republic of the Congo

The objective of this study is to inventory the fresh fish sold in the Central market of Yakoma in the territory of Yakoma, Nord-Ubangi province in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Surveys supported by a questionnaire submitted to fresh fish sellers in this market and samplings of fish were organized between December 2014 and June 2015 to collect the expected data. The results obtained showed that the fresh fish sold in this market are diversified. Fifty species of fish distributed in eight orders, eighteen families and thirty-one genera were inventoried. Fish of the orders Siluriformes (33.3%), Characiformes (22.2%) and Perciformes (16.7%) were the most represented. At the family level, those of Mormyridae (22.6%), Alestidae (12.9%), Ciclhidae (9.68%), Cyprinidae and Clariidae (6.45% respectively) were the most abundant. The fish genera Synodontis (14%), Mormyrus (8%), Barbus (6%), Brycinus, Citharinus, Clarias, Tilapia, Distichodus, Arius, Polypterus and Petrocephalus (with 4% respectively) were the most representative than the others. Regarding the source of supply of fish sold, it emerged that the Ubangi (56%) and Uélé (44%) rivers are the ones that supply the Central Yakoma market with fresh fish. The results of this study are of great importance in that they highlighted the contribution of the Ubangi and Uélé rivers in fresh fish. The ichthyological richness of these two rivers deserves the sustained attention of scientists and authorities for its good management and exploitation.  

Keywords: Fresh fish, Ichthyological diversity, Yakoma, Ubangi/Uélé River, Nord-Ubangi