Fish survey of inland lagoons and water surrounding Sammaliah Island – Abu Dhabi, UAE

Abstract

Fishing was conducted from March, 2001 to August, 2006 in the water surrounding Samalliah Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE and intertidal laggons of this island using different fishing gears. Traps and hooks and lines were used five days a week, cast nets were used once a week, while seine nets and fixed gillnets were used seasonally. A total of 65 fish species belonging to 35 families and to 51 genera were recorded during sampling period. Fish species are classified according to their appearance in the samples to four groups. Very common species comprising 26.1% (17 species), common species comprising 24.6% (16 species), rare species comprising 35.4% (23 species) and very rare species comprising 13.8% (9 species) of total fished species. Sixteen species were captured by hooks and lines, eleven species by garkoors and fourteen species by cast net.