Fishery typology in sectors IV and V of the Ebrie lagoon in the department of Dabou (Ivory Coast)

Abstract

Fishing is an essential activity for man because it provides him with food and income. Thus, it is important to ensure that it is practiced in a responsible and sustainable manner. The objective of this study is to collect information about fishing activities in the sectors IV and V of the Ebrie Lagoon in order to contribute to its sustainable management. Campaigns were carried out from August 2020 to July 2021 in nine villages with 152 fishermen. Data was collected using questionary submitted to fishing actors. Physical and online documents were also consulted. Results revealed that fishermen population was composed of 57.24% of Ivorians and 42.76% of non-Ivorians. The fishing activity was dominated by Ivorians (57.24%) of whom 46.05% were Adjoukuou. Professional and occasional fishermen were identified among both Ivorians and non-Ivorians. 40.23% of Ivorian professional fishermen practice only fishing and 44.83% of Ivorian professional fishermen were olso engaged in agriculture. The non-national professional fishermen practice only fishing (84.62% of no national professional group). Generally, fishermen were aged between 30 and 45 years for the Ivorians and more of 45 years for no national. Most of the fishermen had been to school, married and practiced the activity on their own funds. The fishing techniques used were individual (gillnets with smaller mesh than the standard mesh (45 mm), longlines, hawks, traps (net and mesh), bamboo traps, shrimp nets, lines, harpoons and brushwood pens). The low level of education of non-Ivorian fishermen and the sub-standard mesh sizes constituted a real obstacle to the sustainable management of fish resources. It is therefore important to monitor fishing activity in these sectors of the Ebrie lagoon in order to avoid any damage related to overexploitation.