Seychelles artisanal fisheries statistics for 1995

(1). During 1995 an estimated total of 4313 tonnes of fish was landed on Mahe. Praslin and La Digue by 337 fishing boats 86,4% of which was landed on Mahe alone. The catch volume has decreased by 114 tonnes since 1994, and the number of boats operating has increased by 9 over the same period. (2). The most important species groups landed (greater than 5% of the total catch) were, carangues {29.8%), job (13.3%), bourgeois (8.3%), maquereau doux (7.5%), cordonicr (6.8%) and capitaine (6.8%). (3). Peak landings occurred in March (546.6 MT) and the lowest catch occurred in January (216.4 MT). The average catch per month was 359.4 tonnes. (4). A marked seasonal variation in catches of demersal species was observed, with low catches being recorded during the period of south east trade winds (June - September). Peak catches of carangue occurred during May. The catch of pelagic species exhibited the same seasonal variation as observed with the demersal species. Catches of cordonier dropped in May and August. The catch of other trap fish, however, dropped slightly from May to September. These observations of seasonal variability are believed to relate more to climatic conditions than to the catchability of the fish themselves. (5). In total the small boat fishery accounted for 40% of fish landings during 1995. The percentage catch by boat type for the small boat fishery is as follows; fishermen on foot, 1%; pirogues, 9 %; outboards, 89% and whalers with fixed traps, l%. Fishermen on foot landed mostly octopus (89%: pirogues landed maquereau (69.2%) and cordonier (15%): outboards landed maqueraux doux {21%) and cordonnier (17%) and whalers with traps, cordonier (46%) and other trap fish (39%) . Approximately half of the landings by the small boat fleet were pelagic species. (6). The whaler handline fishery accounted for 50.2% of total landings. An average of 92 whalers operated each month during 1995 including those using traps, with a reduction in the fleet of 3 vessels since 1995. Carangues accounted for the largest part of the catch (38%). Other important species were; job gris (16.5%), bourgeois (12%) and becune (6.5%). (7). An average of 11 schooners operated each month during 1995 and accounted for 6% of total landings. Bourgeois was the single most important species caught (24%) followed by batrican (10%) and vielle maconde (5%). The spanner crab Ranina ranina accounted for 2.6% of schooner landings.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Azemia, R., Grandcourt, E.
Format:	Report biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	Seychelles Fishing Authority 1996
Subjects:	Artisanal fishing, Landing statistics, Catch composition, Fish catch statistics,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/1834/5086
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