ALBERT

Description: (1). During 2000 an estimated total of 4764 tonnes of fish was landed on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue by 330 fishing boats. 89.6% of the total catch was landed on Mahe alone. The catch volume has decreased by 78 tonnes compared to the 1999 catch and the number of boats operating has increased by 15 over the same period. (2). The most important species groups landed (greater than 5% of the total catch) were carangues (37.0%), job (11.6%), capitaine (8.9%) and maquereau doux (6.2%). (3). Peak landings occurred in September (750.0 MT) and the lowest catch was recorded in June (236.3 MT). The average catch per month was 397 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 (May - July). Peak catches of carangues occurred during September. The catch of pelagic species exhibited the same seasonal variation as observed with the demersal species. Catches of cordonnier dropped in July and August. The catch of other trap fish, however, was low in February, April and December. Seasonal variation in catches can be related to weather conditions inhibiting fishing activities. (5). In total the small boat fishery accounted for 34.3% of fish landings during 2000. The percentage catch by boat type for the small boat fishery is as follows; fishermen on foot — 0.9%; pirogues — 1.7 %; outboards — 32.3% and whalers with traps — 0.3%. Fishermen on foot landed mostly octopus (54.5%): pirogues landed mainly maqueraux (66.7%) and trap fish (19.8%): outboards landed predominantly carangues (25.1%), maqueraux (26.9%) and trap fish (22.8%), whalers with traps landed mainly capitaine (44.5%) and cordonnier (25.8%). Landings by the small boat fleet were made up mostly of pelagic species (53.1%). (6). The whaler handline fishery accounted for 60.3% of total landings. An average of 89 whalers operated each month during 2000 including those using traps indicating an increase of 4 vessels operating when compared to 2000. Carangues made up just under half of the catch (46.5%). Other important species in the catch were; job gris (16.1%), becune (5.9%), capitaines (10%) and vara vara (4.4%). Catches of Bourgeois declined from 7.6% in 1999 to 4.3% of the total catch for whalers in 2000. (7). An average of 10 schooners operated each month during 2000 and accounted for 4.0% of total landings. Bourgeois was the most important species caught (21.8%) followed by job gris (7.0%), and Carangues (4.5%). The spanner crab Ranina ranina accounted for 3.3% of schooner landings. (8). Fish purchases from the artisanal fishery by the Oceana Fisheries Co. Ltd. were equivalent to 9.2 % of total landings (438.5 MT). 100% was purchased in Victoria. Major species purchased were: bourgeois (29%), job (15.7%), maqueraux (15.8%) and groupers (13.4%). (9). Oceana Fisheries also purchased 160.6 MT of frozen fish (gutted and ungutted) from foreign longline vessels during 2000. Species purchased were all pelagic of which bonito was the most common (61.1%) followed by sailfish (7.7%), dorade (7.3%), marlin (6%) and skipjack tuna (4.9%). (10). Fish product exports during 2000 generated revenue of 6.7 million Seychelles Rupees in foreign exchange earnings. Fish exports by the Oceana Fisheries amounted to 255.8 MT. 69% being fresh and 31% frozen valued at SR 6.3 million (CIF). Major destinations for the fish were; Mauritius (39%), England (36%) and Reunion (22%). Pelagic fish (36%), Job (19.5%), and bourgeois (19%) formed the most important fish exports. (11). A comparison of data collected between 1988 and 1999 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 13.15 tonnes of fish, 102 spiny lobster and 4000+ scallops in 2000 contributing to 0.3 % of the total catch.

Description: Published