FISH COMPOSITION AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME DOMINANT SPECIES AT VAM THUAT RIVER - NUOC LEN CANAL, SAI GON RIVER SYSTEM, VIETNAM

Domestic and industrial wastewaters and fishing activities caused the decline of fish diversity in Vam Thuat river - Nuoc Len canal, Sai Gon River systems, in Ho Chi Minh City. This paper aims to provide the species compositions and fishing gears in study area as a scientific basis data for biodiversity conservation, sustainable fishery development combined with environmental protection. Based on sample collected in October 2015, a total number of 6 fish species were identified belonging to 6 genera, 6 families, 3 orders. The most dominant order was Perciformes with 4 species. Three large-sized fish species that were not the endemic fish species in the study areas including Cyprinus carpio, Clarias gariepinus, Anabas testudineus and Monopterus albus. The fish diversity indicated the polluted situation of the canals. In addition, the paper presents ecological characteristics of 6 fish species in the study areas.