Seychelles artisanal fisheries statistics for 2007
During 2007, a total of 4184 MT of fish was landed on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue by approximately 351 fishing boats. 87% of the total catch was landed on Mahé. The total artisanal catch increased by 344MT compared to 2006, whilst the number of boats operating increased by only 6 units over the same period (excluding sport fishing vessels). The most important species groups landed (greater than 5% of the total catch) were bourgeois (25.7%), carangues (18.7%), job (15.7%), macquereau doux (7.5%), and cordonnier (5.1%). Peak landings occurred in November (612.8 MT) and the lowest in June (211.3 MT), the latter period coinciding with the Southeast (SE) Trades and sea states not conducive to fishing. The average monthly catch in 2007 was 348.4 MT, representing an increase of 8.7% over the previous year. Seasonal variation in catch was observed in 2007. The mean monthly catch during the SE Trades (June – September, inclusive) was 248.6 MT, compared to a mean monthly catch during the Northwest (NW) monsoon (October – May, inclusive) of 398.6 MT. Catches of bourgeois continued to increase, reaching 1076.0 MT, with peak monthly catches occurring in October. Catches of bourgeois, macquereau, job, capitaine, other pelagics, grouper and shark and rays all increased over the previous year, while those of cordonnier, red snapper ,crabs, octopus, other trap fish and becune all declined. The percentage of the total artisanal catch taken by the small boat fishery (pirogues and outboards) was 25.6%, a slight decreased compared to 2006 data. Fishermen on foot landed 0.4% of the total artisanal catch, with octopus catches from this fishery totaling 12.9 MT in 2007. A total of 17.2 MT of macquereau were landed by pirogues using encircling gillnet. Macquereau (35.3%) follow by cordonnier (19.9%) continued to be the most important species landed by vessels with outboards in 2007, with other important groups in this fishery including carangue (13.7%) and other trap fish (8.9%). In 2007, landings by the small boats and foot fishermen were divided slightly in favour of pelagic and semi-pelagic species (56%) compared to demersal/ reef species (44%). Typical of previous years, the whaler handline fishery dominated artisanal fisheries catches, accounting for 63.3% of total landings in 2007. An average of 99 whalers operated each month during 2007, an increase of 8 vessels over the previous year. Bourgeois made up 33% of the total whaler handline catch. Other important species in the catch were, in order of importance, carangues (22.2%) job (19.7%) and becune (5.3%). A maximum of 22 schooners were in operation during 2007 and these vessels accounted for 9.3% of total landings. Bourgeois was again the most important species caught by schooners (43.4%), followed by the ‘others’ category (14.7%), job gris (8.9% )and carangue (8.2%) . In terms of contribution to the catch by gear type, handlines continued to be the principal gear used by outboard, whaler and schooner vessels,. In 2007, nets remained the most important gear used by pirogues. Harpoons are the main gear employed by foot fishermen.
| Auteurs principaux: | , |
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| Format: | Report biblioteca |
| Langue: | English |
| Publié: |
Seychelles Fishing Authority
2009
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| Sujets: | Artisanal fishing, Landing statistics, Catch composition, Fish catch statistics, |
| Accès en ligne: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/4973 |
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