7. Summary of the findings of the Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) and Scientific Knowledge studies on Catfish Results of Mesh Size Gillnet Comparison Study In 2013, provided technical assistance for a Mesh Size Gillnet LEK Findings Scientific Knowledge Findings Multiple species of salt, Very slow growing; believed to live > 30 years. brackish and freshwater Produce only a few eggs per year; the male mouth- species identified. broods them for 2 months Most species caught year Mature between ages 2 and 3 25cm fork length); can round, with peak periods reach 80cm. based on species and Appear to be highly vulnerable to overfishing; may be location. overfished. Migration patterns By-catch survey showed large catches year round in all generally from the the sites (Sine Saloum Senegal) and from deep waters North Fishermen reported they catch catfish with gillnets, long and West to The Gambia lines and even purse seines. River through the river Note that the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) process mouth in January and back for eco-labeling will want to know percentages of catfish to the sea when the rains caught by the sole nets out of some total amount landed. start in June. Propose the need to be very proactive with catfish At 4 sites prevalence of management to get the MSC label. Ngunja (Arius heudeloti) is much less compared to the Length frequency data would be useful. past. In Mbankam Suggest a hook selectivity study, along with gillnet. fishermen have not seen Ngunja for the last 5 years. Information needed on the period of egg brooding by the They can only catch it female before the 2 months male brooding. further south. Study. The previous 2012 study on the determined some improvement to “” selection was possible. However, the added work of attaching the net to the hanging lines, difficulty of enforcement and the loss of fish makes this feature unattractive as a management measure. Therefore, the committee opted to examine the increase of mesh size as a possible management option. This study was designed to determine mean size of fish caught with the 84 and 92 mm mesh size. Four crew were involved in the study (2 local fishers and 2 from the USAID/BaNafaa team). The fishing trials were conducted in a 5 nautical mile
LEK Findings Scientific Knowledge Findings Multiple species of salt, brackish and freshwater species identified. Most species caught year round, with peak periods based on species and location. Migration patterns generally from the (Sine Saloum Senegal) and from deep waters North and West to The Gambia River through the river mouth in January and back to the sea when the rains start in June. At 4 sites prevalence of Ngunja (Arius heudeloti) is much less compared to the past. In Mbankam fishermen have not seen Ngunja for the last 5 years. They can only catch it further south. Very slow growing; believed to live > 30 years. Produce only a few eggs per year; the male mouth- broods them for 2 months Mature between ages 2 and 3 25cm fork length); can reach 80cm. Appear to be highly vulnerable to overfishing; may be overfished. By-catch survey showed large catches year round in all the sites Fishermen reported they catch catfish with gillnets, long lines and even purse seines. Note that the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) process for eco-labeling will want to know percentages of catfish caught by the sole nets out of some total amount landed. Propose the need to be very proactive with catfish management to get the MSC label. Length frequency data would be useful. Suggest a hook selectivity study, along with gillnet. Information needed on the period of egg brooding by the female before the 2 months male brooding. 7. Summary of the findings of the Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) and Scientific Knowledge studies on Catfish Results of Mesh Size Gillnet Comparison Study In 2013, provided technical assistance for a Mesh Size Gillnet Study. The previous 2012 study on the “” determined some improvement to selection was possible. However, the added work of attaching the net to the hanging lines, difficulty of enforcement and the loss of fish makes this feature unattractive as a management measure. Therefore, the committee opted to examine the increase of mesh size as a possible management option. This study was designed to determine mean size of fish caught with the 84 and 92 mm mesh size. Four crew were involved in the study (2 local fishers and 2 from the USAID/BaNafaa team). The fishing trials were conducted in a 5 nautical mile
Signed-Catfish-Demersal-Amendment-to-sole-plan-Dec-14-2013.docx