Seychelles artisanal fisheries statistics for 1997
(1). During 1997 an estimated total of 4095 tonnes of fish was landed on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue by 348 fishing boats. 83.5% of the total catch was landed on Mahe alone. The catch volume has decreased by 415 tonnes compared to the 1996 catch and the number of boats operating has increased by 21 over the same period. (2). The most important species groups landed (greater than 5% of the total catch) were carangues (38.1%), job (11.3%), maquereau doux (7.3%) and capitaine (5.4%). (3). Peak landings occurred in April (701.8 MT) and the lowest catch was recorded in June (150 MT). The average catch per month was 341.2 tonnes. (4). A marked seasonal variation in catches of demersal species was observed, with low catches being recorded during the period of southeast trade winds (June - September). Peak catches of carangues occurred during April. The catch of pelagic species exhibited the same seasonal variation as observed with the demersal species. Catches of cordonnier dropped in June and July. The catch of other trap fish, however, dropped slightly from March to June. These observations of seasonal variability are believed to relate more to climatic conditions than to the catchability of the fish themselves. 1997 also saw the start of a strong El Nino weather phenomenon that may have contributed to the decline in catch. (5). In total the small boat fishery accounted for 38% of fish landings during 1997. The percentage catch by boat type for the small boat fishery is as follows; fishermen on foot -1.5%; pirogues - 6.1 %; outboards — 89.9% and whalers with fixed traps ¬2.5%. Fishermen on foot landed mostly octopus (65.7%): pirogues landed mainly maqueraux (61%) and trap fish (26%): outboards landed predominantly carangues (36.9%), maqueraux (17.7%) and cordonnier (9%), whalers with traps landed mainly cordonnier (42%) and capitaine (31.7%). Landings by the small boat fleet were made up mostly of pelagic species (69.1%). (6). The whaler handline fishery accounted for 53% of total landings. An average of 91 whalers operated each month during 1997 including those using traps indicating no change when compared to 1996. Carangues made up just under half of the catch (45.9%). Other important species in the catch were; job gris (15%), Bourgeois (8.3%) and becune (6.8%). (7). An average of 11 schooners operated each month during 1997 and accounted for 7.2% of total landings. Bourgeois was the most important species caught (20%) followed by job gris (17.4%), vara vara (6.5%) and Carangues (6.4%). The spanner crab Ranina ranina accounted for 7.1% of schooner landings. (8). Fish purchases from the artisanal fishery by the Oceana Fisheries Co. Ltd. were equivalent to 12.2 % of total landings (503.4 MT). 99% was purchased in Victoria and the remaining 4.7 MT on Praslin. Major species purchased were: job (25%), bourgeois (19%), groupers (13.4%) and capitaine (10.6%). (9). Oceana Fisheries also purchased 165.8 MT of frozen fish (gutted and ungutted) from foreign longline vessels during 1997. Species purchased were all pelagic of which bonite was the most common (65%) followed by dorade (13.9%), swordfish (7%) and yellowfin (3.6%) (10). Fish product exports during 1997 generated revenue of 230.2 million Seychelles Rupees in foreign exchange earnings. Fish exports by the Oceana Fisheries amounted to 250.3MT. 71% being fresh and 29% frozen valued at SR 6.5 million (CIF). Major destinations for the fish were; Reunion (52%), Mauritius (23%) and England (21%). Job (35.6%), pelagic fish (23%) and bourgeois (17.7%) formed the most important fish exports. (11). A comparison of data collected between 1985 and 1997 follows. The proportion of catch by boat type and number of boats operating shown in the following table do not include the research vessels of the Seychelles Fishing Authority which landed 24.5 tonnes in 1997 contributing to 0.6 % of the total catch.
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Report biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Seychelles Fishing Authority
1998
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| Subjects: | Artisanal fishing, Landing statistics, Catch composition, Fish catch statistics, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/5062 |
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