ETHNOZOOLOGY OF FIN-FISHES FROM ITSEKIRI FISHING COMMUNITIES, DELTA STATE NIGERIA.

Resumo

Fin-fishes are important human nutrient source, with documented versatile indigenous utility in medicine, social, cultural, traditional and religious rites and, celebrations. Nigeria, endowed with tremendous fin-fish resources has limited reports of utilization of fin-fishes by its numerous ethnic civilizations.

An ethnozoological survey of fin-fish species was conducted in selected Itsekiri fishing communities of Delta State, Nigeria. 300 participants were interviewed, 271 were from Itsekiri fishing communities, while the remaining 29 were from non-Itsekiri fishing communities (controls), within Niger Delta, for accuracy of responses. Qualitative fin-fish data were also collected at all fishing jetties in study areas.  Data were explored using ethnozoological indices of Use Value of Species (UVs), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) Index and Relative Importance Index (RI).

Thirty-one fin-fish species were identified. 29 species were associated with medicinal purposes, 14 species for religious/spiritual rites, and 11 species for cultural practices and rites. Fertility-related issues were identified as the most-metioned health condition requiring fin-fish bearing medicinal interventions.  Malapterurus electricus was the only species with same uses across all the communities visited. Furthermore, UVs, RFC and RI indicated the use of different fin-fishes, by different communities, for similar spiritual, cultural, religious and medicinal interventions. Indigenous fin-fish names from the study area were mono-specific in nature. 24 identified species are on list of species nationally, with conservation challenges. Chrysichthys aluuensis (Claroteidae) and Polydactylus quinquarius (Polynemidae) are additionally listed on IUCN redlist, as endangered and vulnerable respectively.

Ethnozoological data on the use of fin-fishes in indigenous medicine, religious rites, social, cultural and traditional celebrations in Itsekri civilization, indicated intimate and, extant interrelationships. Primacy of medicinal uses reinforced the use of fauna in indigenous medicine, however use of fin-fishes needs more research and understanding, comparable with other faunal groups, and correct misgivings associated with ethnic medicine in Nigeria.