COUNTRY FILES (contd.)

CAPE VERDE

1. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

Cape Verde (with a surface area of 4 030 km²) consists of ten islands and five islets, all of volcanic origin. Most are mountainous and support lush vegetation at higher elevations (watered by moisture condensation).

Rainfall is sparse and cyclical droughts occur. Temperatures are moderate the year round.

The economy is mainly agricultural, bananas being the chief produce.

2. HYDROGRAPHY

2.1 Lakes: There are no lakes of any size.

2.2 Rivers, Floodplains and Swamps:
Most islands possess short streams up to 15 km long, which can remain dry for several years.

2.3 Reservoirs: There are no large reservoirs.

2.4 Coastal Lagoons: There are no coastal lagoons.

2.5 Aquaculture: No aquaculture in Cape Verde (Vincke, 1989, pers.comm.).

3. FISHERY PRODUCTION/POTENTIAL

3.1 Fish production and per caput supply: See Table 1.

3.2 Inland catch range and potential yield: none.

4. STATE OF THE FISHERY

4.1 Yield: No yield can be expected from present hydrological resources.

4.2 Factors influencing yield: Poor rainfall, no inland water body.

4.3 Future development possibilities: Unless artificial lentic systems are created, conditions simply do not exist for any inland fishery production whatsoever.

5. KEY BIBLIOGRAPHY: none.

6. WATER BODIES DIRECTORY: none.

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY: none.

Table 1. FISH PRODUCTION AND PER CAPUT SUPPLY - Cape Verde, 1970–1987

¹ Source: FAO
² Source: FAO Fisheries Department FISHDAB
In the early 1980's there was some over-estimation of Cape Verde catches; 1983 data based on a study by Shimura (CVI/82/003/REL/TEC/1); data from 1984 the result of improved catch assessment survey.
³ From 1980 to 1983 marine exports were as follows: 1980: 1 142 t; 1981: 428 t; 1982: 1 455 t; 1983: 2 159 t.

Fig. 1. MAP OF CAPE VERDE

COTE D'IVOIRE

1. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE (Welcomme, 1979)

Nearly the whole country (with a surface area of 322 000 km²) is low-lying and only in the northwest does the relief begin to rise toward the Guinea highlands. The southern half of the country is densely forested and the northern half consists of sparse scrub savanna growing on poor lateritic or sandy soils.

The south of the country has a typical tropical climate with warm, even temperatures and high humidity throughout the year. There is a heavy annual rainfall which is concentrated into two rainy seasons: March-July, and September-December. In the south the climate is more arid, with a tendency for the two rainy seasons to become amalgamated into a single season lasting from March to October.

Côte d'Ivoire has a predominantly agricultural economy based on a wide range of products.

2. HYDROGRAPHY (see Fig. 1)

2.1 Lakes

There are only a few small natural lakes in the northern part of the country.

2.2 Rivers, Floodplains and Swamps

Apart from two very short headwater tributaries of the Niger River, all the rivers in Côte d'Ivoire are south-flowing. There are two main basins which lie wholly within the country: the Sassandra River (650 km), and the Bandama River (1 050 km). Smaller intensified rivers are the Komoe, Cavally, Tano, Bia and Black Volta. There are no extensive swamps or floodplains.

2.3 Reservoirs

There is one major reservoir (Kossou), two large (Buyo and Ayame), and several smaller ones (Taobo, Ayane II, Bouake, Yaora, Zatta and Yabra). Other planned reservoirs are at Soubre, Atakro, Malamalasso and Tiboto-Nyaake. There are a number of minor agricultural and potable water supply reservoirs.

2.4 Coastal Lagoons (see Fig. 2 and Table 3)

There are three large lagoon complexes: Aby-Tend-Ehy, Tagba-Maki-Tdio (Grand-Lahou), and Ebrie. In addition there are several small lagoons scattered along the coast.

2.5 Aquaculture

Vincke (1989, pers.comm.) gives the following composite estimate of aquaculture production units in 1985:

Fig. 1. COTE D'IVOIRE
(U.S. Department of State, 1987)

Fig. 2. THE LAGOON SYSTEM OF COTE D'IVOIRE
(Weigel, 1985)

3. FISHERY PRODUCTION/POTENTIAL

3.1 Fish production and per caput supply

Table 1. FISH PRODUCTION AND PER CAPUT SUPPLY - Côte d'Ivoire, 1970–1987

¹ Source: FAO
² Source: FAO Fisheries Department FISHDAB
No catch assessment survey for marine and inland artisanal fisheries; reliable data only for industrial fisheries.
³ included in “Inland capture” if not specified.
⁴ from 1980 to 1983 marine exports were as follows: 1980: 26 970 t; 1981: 29 393 t; 1982: 29 652 t; 1983: 38 455 t
⁵ - = data not available.
⁶ Vincke, 1989, pers.comm.

3.2 Inland catch range and potential yield

Table 2. INLAND CATCH RANGE AND POTENTIAL YIELD

¹ Sources: see text
² FAO/UNDP, 1976
³ see Table 3
⁴ Lazard, 1975; 1977

4. STATE OF THE FISHERY (after Welcomme, 1979; Gosse, 1984)

4.1 Yield

Gosse (1984) estimates the inland fish production in 1982 as about 36 500 t (lagoons fisheries and aquaculture: 12 500 t; other inland fisheries and aquaculture: 24 000 t); FAO's statistics for the same period give 22 000 t (Table 1). Lack of reliable data does not permit a precise production figure.

The brackishwater lagoon production is summarized in Table 3.

Production from aquaculture is estimated at 847 t in 1987, and has been increasing since the beginning of the 1980's (see Table 4).

4.2 Factors influencing yield

The main factor which has tended to keep the catch rates from Ivorian inland waters low is the lack of skilled fisherman within the country. As inland fishery is not a traditional activity in Côte d'Ivoire, the waters have been fished by Ghanian fisherman, but the policy of the Ivorian government to keep foreign fishermen out of the country has left a shortage of manpower. This has, to a certain extent, been overcome by the training of fishermen on Kossou Reservoir, and there is almost certainly a continued, if illicit, foreign presence on the various fishing grounds.

Although lagoon yield still seems to remain under the potential, increasing pollution in the lagoons may soon affect productivity.

Table 3. PRODUCTION FROM LAGOONS (t)
(Doucet et al., 1985)

¹ Calculated after data from: Charles-Dominique, Hiè Darè, Lae, Durand.
² Minimum and mean estimates (there will always be some good and some bad years in lagoons).
³ With seine nets (without seine nets)
⁴ It is considered that Tadio is exploited by professionals, as is Ebriè (without Zone II); the rest of the lagoon is underexploited. (See Fig. 5)
⁵ Catch controls.
⁶ By improving fishing methods, by catch controls, and by fishing Ethmalosa with seine nets in Zone III.
⁷ By developing the fishery.
⁸ By exploiting migrant sea fishes, and by developing the “acadjas” in paddocks, in addition to 5, 6 and 7.

Table 4. AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION, BY SPECIES IN COTE D'IVOIRE (t)

Source: Vincke, 1989, pers.comm.

4.3 Future development possibilities

Côte d'Ivoire possesses a diverse inland capture fishery which could produce up to 62 000 t/yr (see Table 2). However, this optimistic estimate needs confirmation through a reliable and updated potential survey. Attempts to introduce aquaculture on a large scale have so far been unsuccessful, though there is no doubt that a potential exists for expansion of both fresh and brackishwater production of fish in ponds and cages.

5. KEY BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lagoons: Doucet et al., 1985; Dufour, 1987; Kapetsky, 1981a; Weigel, 1985.
Kossou Reservoir: Entz, 1984; FAO/UNDP, 1976.

6. WATER BODIES DIRECTORY

LAKE DALABA

LAKE DALANDJOUGOU

AGNEBY RIVER

BANDAMA RIVER

BANDAMA ROUGE RIVER

BAOULE/BAGOUE/BANI RIVER
(International water)

BIA RIVER

BLACK VOLTA RIVER
(International water)

* Ca and SO₃ figures seem aberrently high and should be taken with care.

Fisheries data
No. of fish species: 96 (Daget and Iltis, 1965)

CAVALLY RIVER
(International water)

CESTOS RIVER
(International water)

COMOE/KOMOE RIVER
(International water)

NIGER RIVER AND FLOODPLAIN
(International water)

Fisheries data
No. of fish species: 135 (Daget, 1954)
Total annual catch:

NZI RIVER

SASSANDRA RIVER

TANO RIVER
(International water)

AYAME RESERVOIR

Fisheries data
No. of fish species: 37. Two species have been introduced: Heterotis niloticus; and Oreochromis niloticus (which makes up 50% of the catch).
Total annual catch and effort:

Potential annual yield: 100 kg/ha/yr (Welcomme, 1972)

AYAME II RESERVOIR

BOUAKE RESERVOIR

BUYO RESERVOIR

KOSSOU RESERVOIR

Potential annual yield: 11 000–16 000 t (FAO/UNDP, 1976)

Specific references: Entz, 1984; FAO/UNDP, 1976.

TAABO RESERVOIR

YABRA RESERVOIR

Fig. 3. LAKE KOSSOU/RESERVOIR
(Welcomme, 1972)

YAORA RESERVOIR

ZATTA RESERVOIR

ABY-TENDO-EHY LAGOON COMPLEX
(International water)

Physical and chemical data
Surface temperature: 24–30° C

Fisheries data
Total annual catch and effort: in Côte d'Ivoire

* (Doucet et al., 1985)

Potential annual yield: 8 275–10 000 t (Doucet et al., 1985)

Fig. 4. THE ABY LAGOON
(Weigel, 1985)

AGHIEN LAGOON

BAKRE LAGOON

EBRIE LAGOON

HEBE LAGOON

	individual fishing		Treichville market	From CRO document 1983
	beach seine fishing		Dabou market
	purse seine fishing		Vidri
	shrimp fishing

Fig. 5. PRINCIPAL FISHING ZONES ON THE EBRIE LAGOON
(Weigel, 1985)

KODIOBOUE LAGOON

NGNI LAGOON

ONO LAGOON

POTOU LAGOON

TAGBA-MAKE-TADIO LAGOON COMPLEX (= GRAND-LAHOU LAGOON)

Fig. 6. THE GRAND-LAHOU LAGOONS
(Weigel, 1985)

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Blanc & Daget, 1957
Daget, 1954; 1957
Daget & Iltis, 1965
Doucet et al., 1985
Dufour, 1987
Entz, 1984
FAO/UN, 1962; 1970; 1971
FAO/UNDP, 1976
Gosse, 1984
Iltis & Leveque, 1982
Kapetsky, 1981a
Lazard, 1975; 1977
Molinier, 1976
Raimondo, 1975
U.S. Department of State, 1987
Weigel, 1985
Welcomme, 1972; 1979; 1985
White, 1965

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

1. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

The country consists of two parts: (a) a mainland enclave (Rio Muni) and 3 small nearby islands (combined area of 25 952 km²); and (b) the large island Bioko and another smaller island (combined area of 2 020 km²). Rio Muni is mainly a fluvial mainland plateau. The islands are of volcanic origin. Most of the country is covered by tropical rainforest. (See Fig. 1.)

The climate is tropical, alternating wet and dry seasons.

Equatorial Guinea is an almost entirely agricultural economy.

2. HYDROGRAPHY (mainly after Matthes, 1980)

2.1 Lakes

There are three small volcanic crater lakes on Bioko Island.

2.2 Rivers, Floodplains and Swamps

There are no large rivers in the country. The biggest river, Rio Benito (about 230 km long) traverses the middle of the mainland province of Rio Muni and has an average width of some 150 m. It is not navigable, being cut by frequent rapids, waterfalls and also obstructed by tree trunks. Other rivers have similar physiography and all typically have acid, fairly clean, “black” waters of low pH (4.0–6.5), low in nutrient salts and dissolved oxygen, high in humic acids, resulting in low productivity, certainly no more than 25 kg/ha/yr for fish.

2.3 Reservoirs

There are no significant impoundments.

A hydroelectric project at Bikoma (18 km from Bata) on this river will create a small reservoir of 7–10 ha, but fishing will be difficult there as no bush clearing will be carried out.

2.4 Coastal Lagoons

There are three large estuaries (Rio Campo, Rio Benito and Rio Munior Utamboni) with brackish, also acidic, water and fairly extensive mangroves (especially in Rio Muni). These appear to be nursery grounds for many marine fish species, as well as crustacea (prawns).

2.5 Aquaculture

There is no aquaculture in Equatorial Guinea (Vincke, 1989, pers. comm.).

3. FISHERY PRODUCTION/POTENTIAL

3.1 Fish production and per caput supply

Table 1. FISH PRODUCTION AND PER CAPUT SUPPLY - Equatorial Guinea, 1970–1987

¹ Source: FAO
² Source: FAO Fisheries Department FISHDAB (includes Rio Muni, Bioko, Annobon, Corisco, Elobey Chico and Elobey Grande)
³ No aquaculture in Equatorial Guinea (Vincke, 1989, pers. comm.)
⁴ - = data not available
⁵ FAO, 1980; Matthes, 1980

3.2 Inland catch range and potential yield

¹ Matthes, 1980
² FAO, 1980
³ FAO Fisheries Statistics

Fig. 1. MAP OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA
(U.S. Department of State, 1984)

4. STATE OF THE FISHERY (after Matthes, 1980)

4.1 Yield

The rivers of Rio Muni and some small volcanic crater lakes on the islands provide limited supplies of freshwater fish (about 300 t/yr) (FAO, 1980).

The total number of inland artisanal fisherman, operating professionally, is around 400 for the whole country (there is no inland fishery on the islands). There are several thousand occasional fishermen, mainly young boys linefishing for small fish and trapping river crayfish or crabs.

Present production/fishermen is unlikely to exceed 0.5 t/yr.

Probably half of the present fish production is being exported in order to buy gear.

4.2 Factors influencing catch

Inland fishery is in an extremely depressed condition; lack of equipment is so acute that each fisherman has only one type of gear left, and that is in poor condition; he is reduced to subsistence fishing, trying to make his equipment last.

Only on Rio Campo and Rio Muni (Cameroon and Gabon borders) do they have access to fishing gear materials, as they sell their catches across the border in order to acquire CFA francs and buy gear.

4.3 Future development possibilities

Given the required equipment, the fishermen can increase their per caput production to around 2 t/yr, i.e., the inland waters could then produce about 1 000 t annually, which is probably all these waters can produce without depleting the stocks.

As the country has abundant hydroelectric potential, the small reservoirs which will be created in relation to this development should be planned with an eye to their fishery potential and should, as a first step, be completely bush cleared.

On Annobon island there is a small crater lake (Lake Mazofin, circa 24 ha), which apparently has an outlet to the sea. The feasibility of stocking this lake with suitable fish (a Tilapia/Clarias combination, for instance) should be investigated.

Owing to the physico-chemical characteristics of the inland waters, there appears to be little potential for aquaculture, considering the costs involved; an equivalent investment in the marine field (particularly in its infrastructures for distribution) would give considerably higher returns.

Marine fisheries are likely to remain the dominant sector of the nation's fishing industry.

5. KEY BIBLIOGRAPHY

Matthes, 1980

6. WATER BODIES DIRECTORY

BIOKO CRATER LAKES

BENITO RIVER
(International water)

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

FAO, 1980
Matthes, 1980
U.S. Department of State, 1984