Report of the FAO Working Group on the Assessment of Small Pelagic Fish off Northwest Africa, Saly, Senegal, 17-27 March 2004

A permanent FAO Working Group composed of scientists from the coastal States, and from countries or organizations that play an active role in Northwest African pelagic fisheries, was established in March 2001 The main objective of the Working Group is to improve the assessment of the small pelagic resources, as well as to give advice on options for management and exploitation of their fisheries and to ensure optimal sustainability of the resources for the economic benefit of Morocco, Mauritania, Gambia and Senegal. The meeting was held in Saly, Senegal, from 17 to 27 March 2004. A total of 15 scientists from seven countries and from FAO participated. The results of the assessments indicate that the sardine stock in Zone C is not fully exploited and the Working Group hence noted that current fishing effort may be temporarily increased, but should be adjusted to natural changes in the stock. As regards the central stock of sardine, it is recommended to not increase catches above the average level of the last five years as a precautionary measure. For sardinella, the Working Group recommended to reduce fishing effort by 20 percent, particularly in fleets targeting the round sardinella. The Working Group also recommended not to increase fishing effort above the average level for the last five years for the Cunene horse mackerel and Chub mackerel.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	FAO, Rome (Italy). Fisheries Dept. eng 184263, FAO Working Group on the Assessment of Small Pelagic Fish off Northwest Africa eng 17-27 Mar 2004 Saly (Senegal) 11509, FAO, Rome (Italy). Dépt. des Pêches fre 1423211767023, Groupe de Travail de la FAO sur l'Évaluation des Petits Pélagiques au Large de l'Afrique Nord-Occidentale fre 17-27 Mar 2004 Saly (Senegal) 188331
Format:	Texto biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	Rome (Italy) FAO 2004
Subjects:	pelagic fisheries, fishery resources, species, sardines, Sardinella, horse mackerel, stock assessment, yields, fishery data, data analysis,
Online Access:	http://www.fao.org/3/a-y5823b.htm
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