Seychelles artisanal fisheries statistics for 1999
(1). During 1999 an estimated total of 4842 Metric Tonnes (MT) of fish was landed on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue by 345 fishing boats. 88.9% of the total catch was landed on Mahe alone. The catch volume has increased by 1508 MT compared to the 1998 catch and the number of boats operating decreased by 10 vessels over the same period. (2). The most important species groups landed (greater than 5% of the total catch) were carangues (30.4%), job (17%), red snapper (10%), cordonnier (5,1%) and capitaine (5.9%). (3). Peak landings occurred in April (560.1 MT) and October (565.4 MT) and the lowest catch was recorded in August (254 MT). The average catch per month was 403.5 tonnes. (4). Seasonal variation in catches of demersal species was observed, however this variation was not as marked as noted in previous years. Peak catches of carangues occurred during May. The catch of pelagic species exhibited the same seasonal variation as observed with the demersal species. Catches of cordonnier dropped in June, July and August. The catch of other trap fish, however, was relatively constant throughout the year with a peak noted in March. (5). In total the small boat fishery accounted for 35.6% of fish landings during 1999, The percentage catch by boat type for the small boat fishery is as follows., fishermen on foot — 0.5%; pirogues — 2.6 %; outboards — 28.5% and whalers — 48.9%. Fishermen on foot landed mostly octopus (83.5%): pirogues landed trap fish (57.7%): outboards landed predominantly carangues (20.9%), maqueraux (19.6%) and cordonnier (14.3%), whalers with traps landed mainly cordonnier (53.6%) and maconde (23.2%). Landings by the small boat fleet were made up mostly of pelagic species (47.8%). (6). The whaler handline fishery accounted for 49% of total landings. An average of 85 whalers operated each month during 1999 including those using traps. Carangues made up just under half of the catch (38.6%). Other important species in the catch were; job gris (25.6%), Bourgeois (7.6%) and becune (8%). (7). An average of 11 schooners operated each month during 1999 and accounted for 5.1% of total landings. Bourgeois was the most important species caught (16%) followed by job gris (9.2%), vara vara (6%) and Capitaine rouge (6%). The spanner crab Ranina ranina accounted for 3.8% of schooner landings. (8). Fish purchases from the artisanal fishery by the Oceana Fisheries Co. Ltd, were equivalent to 7.5 % of total landings (363.4 MT). 100% was purchased in Victoria. Major species purchased were: bourgeois (22.9%), job (21.5%), groupers (14.3%), and capitaine (14%). (9). Oceana Fisheries also purchased 193.5 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 (52.6%) followed by yellowfin (11.4%), dorade (9.8%) and marlin (8.4%). (10). Fish product exports from Oceana Fisheries during 1999 generated revenue of 53.7 million (CIF) Seychelles Rupees in foreign exchange earnings. Fish exports by the Oceana Fisheries amounted to 220 MT, 80.5% being fresh and 19.5% frozen. Major destinations for the fish were; Reunion (33.6%), England (31%) and Mauritius (29.7%). Pelagic fishes (30%), Job (19.1%), and bourgeois (19%) formed the most important fish exports. (11). A comparison of data collected between 1987 and 1998 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 6.7 tonnes in 1999 contributing to 0.1 % of the total catch. (12). Note: A ban on set gill nets in the artisanal fishery was imposed in August 1998. The ban allowed for a six-month grace period to enable fishermen to change from gillnets to longlines.
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Report biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Seychelles Fishing Authority
2000
|
| Subjects: | Artisanal fishing, Landing statistics, Catch composition, Fish catch statistics, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/5088 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|