Inventory, description and analysis of fishing gear and techniques used in Lake Ahémé and its channels, facing the law on fishing in Benin (West-Africa)

Christian Comlan Viaho Christian Comlan Viaho,Simon Ahouansou Montcho Simon Ahouansou Montcho,Martin N Gbedey Martin N Gbedey,Philippe A Laleye Philippe A Laleye,Delphine Adandedjan Delphine Adandedjan

doi:10.30574/wjarr.2021.12.1.0530

Christian Comlan Viaho Christian Comlan Viaho, Simon Ahouansou Montcho Simon Ahouansou Montcho + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2021.12.1.0530

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Abstract

Located in the southwest of Benin, the study environment consists of Lake Ahémé, the Ahô channel, the Tihimey channel, the coastal lagoons of Grand-Popo and Ouidah. The mouth of Avlo-plage makes the area an Estuarine Lagoon environment rich in ichthyofaunal biodiversity where fishing, the main activity of the populations, is practiced with various gears and techniques which are inventoried and described in this study. The methodological approach adopted revolves around documentary research, field surveys through questionnaires and interviews and direct observations. The people interviewed are made up of fishermen; fish wholesalers; agents specializing in fishery production. The study environment was subdivided into 19 observation stations and the data were collected from January 2018 to December 2019. The gears were illustrated by photos and described according to the results of the documentary research and information received from the fishermen. Their variations according to the bodies of water and the stations were calculated using the Excel 2017 table. The drawn meshes of the nets were measured to the nearest millimeter. The study shows that the inventoried fishing gears and techniques include nets, lines, pots, Acadjas and trap dams (Xhas), categorized into 12 gears and 02 techniques, of which 86% are constant and 14% are accessories. Gbagbaloulou conical nets dominate the gear while the landing net is the least represented. The smallest mesh measured is 2mm, while the largest mesh is 25mm. The fishing gear and techniques used do not ensure rational and sustainable management of fishery resources. Faced with the damage they are causing, the Government proceeded to their systematic removal. Snail farming was initiated to diversify the activities of fishermen.

Highlights

In old times, fishing was a major source of food for mankind, providing employment and economic benefits to those who practiced it [1]
The study shows that the inventoried fishing gears and techniques include nets, lines, pots, Acadjas and trap dams (Xhas), categorized into 12 gears and 02 techniques, of which 86% are constant and 14% are accessories
They show that the study area is under strong fishing pressure in view of the diversity of fishing gear and techniques used; which constitutes a cause of degradation of the aquatic ecosystem [32]

Summary

Introduction

In old times, fishing was a major source of food for mankind, providing employment and economic benefits to those who practiced it [1]. The development of fisheries provides for various management measures These include technical regulations for fishing gear aimed at achieving the general objective of high balanced production in the fishery. These include mesh regulations, for example, intended to improve the selective properties of a fishing gear to reduce by catch of juveniles, the aim being to protect recruitment into larger groups of a stock, especially the spawning stock [3] In this process of conducting fishing activities responsibly to ensure the sustainability of resources, fishing gear and techniques play an important role; because the quality and quantity of the products caught depend on the gear used for fishing. It will be about making an inventory of fishing gear and techniques used by fishermen, describing them and analyzing their compliance with the current fishing regulations in Benin

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion