Posted by Chester Morton / Sunday 30 April 2023 / No comments
How to identify and describe common fisheries organisms
The identification
and description of some common fishery organisms in the world
Introduction
Fish
and other aquatics organisms are very importance sources of food to the human
race in every part of the world. Most water bodies contain fisheries organisms.
These organisms play very important roles in the survival and sustainability of
the aquatic ecosystem. Apart from providing food, they also serve as a source
of income for individuals and groups, in addition, fish organisms service the
needs of other players in the ecosystems. This article seeks to explore the features
of the various fisheries organisms, how they look like and what they are made
of.
FIN
FISH
Tuna
Tuna is a large predatory fish found in warm and temperate oceans around
the world. It is an important commercial fish known for its high oil content
and delicious flavor. It is usually silvery blue in color with dark stripes
along the body. Tuna can reach very large dimensions; Some species can weigh
over 1,000 pounds! Fast swimmers and powerful predators, tuna use their
powerful tails to propel themselves through the water. They feed on small fish
and squid, as well as birds and mammals.
Mackerel
Mackerel
is another type of fin fish that can be found in temperate as well as topical
Seas. Their skin is blue/silver in colour spotting their forked tails and
vertical 'tiger-like' stripes running along their backs. It has a slender body.
They have large eyes, and a very high sense of smell. They move in large groups
called schools, near the surface of the ocean. Mackerel is an important source
of food. They are served in many popular dishes.
Tilapia
Tilapia
is another fin fish we need to mention. The fish used to be almost exclusive to
Africa but over the years, tilapia has found its way to other parts and can now
be found in most parts of the world today. Though it is allowed to grow in its
own natural habitat, it can also be cultivated on both domestic and commercial
bases. It is a very popular source of food and is used in the preparation
different types of dishes, mostly grilled, dried or smoked. It is can adapt to
different water conditions and can grow very fast. The colour ranges from light
gray to silver.
Herring
A
herring is another type of fin fish. It is small in nature which usually
inhabit the Atlantic Ocean and other Seas like the North and Baltic Seas. It is
silvery-green in colour. Herring is a common prey for several species of fish,
marine mammals, and birds. They are either canned or smoked. They could also be
served fresh.
CRUSTACEANS
Lobster
Lobster
is classified as crustacean. It is large and inhabits marine waters. It has double
asymmetrical claws and a hard, spiny exoskeleton. It is normally reddish-brown.
Some have other colours though, like blue, yellow, or green. The body is
segmented and long. There are twine antennae and small eyes on the head. There
is a long, flexible abdomen. Six pairs of legs and a tail. Lobsters live in
live in several oceans where the water is cold, like the Atlantic, Pacific, and
Indian Oceans. Lobsters are popular delicacies In Ghana and Nigeria, in fact in
the whole coastal region of West Africa. Some meals cooked with lobster are,
lobster corn chowder, lobster thermidor, bisque, etc.
Shrimp
Another
type of crustacean is the shrimp. It is a small and has a slim body. One would
see that it has antennae on its head and that their abdomen is curved. Shrimps
can grow to different sizes but are typically between 0.2 inches and 10 inches.
Shrimps do not have just one colour, they have several of them. They may be
red, pink, orange, or white. They normally inhabit in coastal waters but can
also be found in estuaries or in coral reefs. They have different choices of
food to select from, they could eat plankton but can also eat algae, and feed
on small fish too. To serve as food, shrimp may either be boiled or grilled.
Some people, on the other hand, like it fried, especially in Ghana and Nigeria.
Prawns
are also classified under crustaceans. Typically, they look like big shrimps
but they are a type of shellfish. Their colour is pinkish-red and have long and
thin body. To cook prawns, the shells are usually still, and even to eat it,
the shells are still on. The flavour is very nice and they taste good. Prawns
are one of the most dynamic ingredients that are used for the preparation of
dishes. Some of the dishes that prawns are used for include prawn stir, prawn
salad and prawn taco.
Crab
Another type of crustacean is called crab. The
exterior of a crab is hard. It has pairs of legs. Most crabs live in water, mostly
fresh water or salty water. Some also live on land though. There is a variety
of food available to Crabs, such foods include, but are not limited to worms,
algae and fungi.
MOLLUSCS
Clam
A clam is another mollusc family member. It
inhabits the ocean and freshwater. A clam is covered by a hinged shell. It
filters water from its surroundings and picks food particles out of it to feed
itself. It has a deep-gray colour or a clay beige with a khaki undertone. Clams
are preyed by other species. They also serve as food to the human race. They
serve as a source of income as their meat, shells, and pearls can be harvested
for sale.
Scallop
Scallop is another
mollusc family member. Its habitation is the coastal waters of the temperate
regions of the world. It is an organism that has a fan shape. Its shell opens
on a hinge and the meat is right inside. When it is fresh, the colour looks
creamy but may also be fawn. Its flavour is so nice. Scallop may be fried,
boiled or steamed before it is ready for the table. Some of the side dishes
that go well with scallops include rice, pasta, potatoes greens, peas and
beans. In addition, it is also used in preparing sushi.
Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish is another from the mollusc family. It
has close relationship to the octopus. It lives in all the oceans of the world
especially in shallow coastal waters. It has an internal shell that enables it
to float. Cuttlefish have two eyes, eight arms, and a finned mantle. They can
quickly change colour to suit its environment in order to be invisible to its
predators. They feed mainly on small crustaceans. √
Oyster
Oysters
fall under the family of mollusk. They can be found in fresh or salt waters. An
oyster has two shells joined by a hinge. The colour of a healthy oyster is
creamy and some are gray too. An oyster food is assorted, they filter the water
and pick particles as food. Oyster is a valuable source of nutrients to humans.
They can also be exploited commercially to generate income for individuals and
for nations. They are included in very popular recipes like Oyster Rockefeller,
Oysters Kilpatrick etc. In some communities, oysters are delicacies. They are
also important and valuable for pearls.
The
identification and description of fisheries organisms is an essential venture.
The reason is that it will help to understand such species that are available.
With this knowledge, we can help to protect them. If we understand the current
stock of fish species, if we know their characteristics, it will help us to
make better decisions about their management and conservation. This will
subsequently save the world, looking at the rate at which the population of the
world is growing, the way some unscrupulous people overfish the oceans and
other water bodies, this knowledge can help in developing better ways of
conserving our fish stock to save the world from scarcity in the future.