ALBERT

Description: (1). During 2002 an estimated total of 4915 tonnes of fish was landed on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue by 374 fishing boats. 83.1% of the total catch was landed on Mahe alone. The total catch increased by 625 tonnes compared to 2001, and the number of boats operating decreased by 3 over the same period. (2). The most important species groups landed (greater than 5% of the total catch) were carangues (41.5%), job (12.4%), capitaine (6.8%), becune (6.1%), maquereau doux (5.7%) and bourgeois (5.7%). (3). Peak landings occurred in October (576.5 MT) and the lowest catch was recorded in January (222.51 MT). The average catch per month was 409.6 tonnes. (4). Seasonal variation in catches of demersal species was less marked compared to previous years. The mean monthly catch during the SE Trades (May — October, inclusive) was 420.5 MT, compared to a mean monthly catch of 359.4 MT during the NW monsoon (December — March, inclusive). High catches were probably maintained during the period of May to October in 2002 due to the comparatively weak strength of the SE Trades in that year, as determined by lower than average wind speeds for most months in that period (Meteorological Office, pers. comm.). Identical to the pattern observed in 2001, the highest catches for carangues occurred in April. Catches of cordonnier in 2002 (203.0 MT) were more than double those recorded in 2001 (90.5), and were lowest during the period of March to June, inclusive. (5). In total, the small boat fishery accounted for 26.4% of fish landings during 2002. Compared to the total artisanal catch, the percentage catch by boat type for the small boat fishery was as follows: fishermen on foot — 0.6%; pirogues — 0.6%; outboards -25.2% and whalers with traps — 2.2%. Fishermen on foot mostly landed octopus (87.0%), although cordonnier catches by this category were also recorded in 2002 (12.6%). Due to changes in fisheries fieldworker coverage in 2002, landings of maquereau by pirogue were not recorded, with cordonnier (57.6%) and other trap fish (23.2%) dominating landings instead. The predominant species groups landed by outboards were, in order of importance, maquereau doux (22.6%), carangues (21.7%), other trap fish (13.9%) and cordonnier (13.6%). Whalers with traps landed mainly capitaine (61.3%), other trap fish (20.1%) and cordonnier (12.3%). In 2002, landings by the small boat fleet were once again approximately divided equally between pelagic (51.3%) and demersal/ reef species (47.4%). (6). The whaler handline fishery accounted for 67.9% of total landings. An average of 91 whalers operated each month during 2002, indicating an increase of 1 vessel operating when compared to 2001. Carangues made up 52.5% of the total whaler handline catch. Other important species in the catch were, in order of importance, job gris (16.4%), becune (8.4%) bourgeois (5.0%), bordemar (2.6%) and vara vara (2.2%). Catches of Bourgeois decreased by 28.8% in 2002 compared to the catch of 2001. (7). Purchases from the artisanal fisheries by Oceana Fisheries were equivalent to 10.3% of total landings (504.2 MT). Oceana Fisheries purchased all fish from the Port Victoria site. Major species groups purchased were red snappers and bourgeois (57.5%), job (12.7%), groupers (5.2%) and capitaine (5.9 %). (8). Fish purchases from foreign longline vessels were in the order of 152.3 MT of frozen fish (gutted and ungutted) during 2002. Species purchased were all pelagic, of which bonito bait was the most common (98.0 MT), followed by yellowfin (18.9 MT), dorade (12.6 MT) and skipjack (12.6 MT). (9). Fish exports by Oceana Fisheries amounted to 226.6 MT, 85.9% of which was fresh and 14.1% frozen. These exports were valued at SR 7.1 million (CIF). Major destinations for the fish were England (34.5%), Reunion (30.3%) and Mauritius (17.0%). Pelagic fish (41.5%), bourgeois (23.4%), and Job (19.2%). formed the most important fish groups exported. (10). A comparison of data collected between 1990 and 2002 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 11.7 tonnes of fish in 2002, contributing 0.2% of the total catch.

Description: Published