Seychelles artisanal fisheries statistics for 2001
(1). During 2001 an estimated total of 4290 tonnes of fish was landed on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue by 377 fishing boats. 84.3% of the total catch was landed on Mahe alone. The catch volume has decreased by 474 tonnes compared to the 2000 catch and the number of boats operating has dereased by 30 over the same period. (2). The most important species groups landed (greater than 5% of the total catch) were carangues (30.0%), job (16.4%). capitaine (11.3%) and bourgeois (8.0%). (3). Peak landings occurred in June (478.0 MT) and the lowest catch was recorded in September (161.7 MT). The average catch per month was 357 tonnes. (4). A seasonal variation in catches of demersal species was observed, however this was less marked when compared to previous years. Low catches being recorded during the period of southeast trade winds (July - September). Peak catches of carangues occurred during April. The catch of pelagic species exhibited a similar seasonal variation as observed with the demersal species. Catches of cordonnier were lowest during the latter part of the SE Monsoon period. The catch of other trap fish, however, was low in May and June. Seasonal variation in catches can be related to weather conditions inhibiting fishing activities. (5). In total the small boat fishery accounted for 27.2% of fish landings during 2001. The percentage catch by boat type for the small boat fishery is as follows; fishermen on foot — 1.1%; pirogues — 1.2 %; outboards — 24.9% and whalers with traps — 1.3%. Fishermen on foot landed mostly octopus (95.3%): pirogues landed mainly maqueraux (50.0%) and trap fish (27.3%): outboards landed predominantly carangues (27.5%), maqueraux (22.3%) and trap fish (20.6%), whalers with traps landed mainly capitaine (61.3%) and cordonnier (12.3%). Landings by the small boat fleet were made up mostly of pelagic species (52.2%). (6). The whaler handline fishery accounted for 66.2% of total landings. An average of 90 whalers operated each month during 2001 including those using traps indicating an increase of 1 vessel operating when compared to 2000. Carangues made up 34.4% of the total whaler handline catch. Other important species in the catch were; job gris (20.0%), bourgeois (8.2%), hecune (8.0%) and vara vara (3.6%). Catches of Bourgeois increased by 3.9% in 2001 compared to the catch of 2000. (7). An average of 11 schooners operated each month during 2001 and accounted for 6.0% of total landings. Bourgeois was the most important species caught (23.8%) followed by job gris (9.8%), and job jaune (7.2%). The spanner crab Ranina ranina accounted for 8.7% of schooner landings. (8). Fish purchases from the artisanal fishery were equivalent to 11.5 % of total landings (497.2 MT). 100% was purchased in Victoria. Major species purchased were: red snappers and bourgeois (47.5%), groupers (15.7%) and capitaine (7.9%). (9). Fish purchases from foreign longline vessels were in the order of 209.4 MT of frozen fish (gutted and ungutted) during 2001. Species purchased were all pelagic of which bonito bait was the most common (121.7 MT) followed by yellowfin (25.1 MT), skipjack (16.2 MT) and dorade (14.9 MT). (10). Fish exports to 296.8 MT. 83.6% being fresh and 16.4% frozen valued at SR 8.5 million (CIF). Major destinations for the fish were; England (44.4%), Reunion (24.4%) and France (15%),. Pelagic fish (50.6%), bourgeois (17.4%), and Job (13.6%) formed the most important fish exports. (11). A comparison of data collected between 1989 and 2000 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 1.7 tonnes of fish in 2001 contributing to 0.03 % of the total catch.
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Report biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Seychelles Fishing Authority
2002
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| Subjects: | Artisanal fishing, Landing statistics, Catch composition, Fish catch statistics, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/5071 |
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