A list of fisheries nomenclature for the four countries is given in Table 2.
Artisanal fishery
Over the period 1980–87, the main characteristics of the artisanal fishery sector were as follows:
this activity is still undertaken by Ghanaian fisherman (mainly of Fanti origin) but with a geographic distribution now modified and concentrating on the western coastal area starting from Vridi (near Abidjan) instead of the eastern area as was formerly the case,
from 1982 onwards there has been a substantial increase in fishing activities in Vridi, following the closing-down of the Ebrie Lagoon collective fishery. Presently, the artisanal fleet based in Vridi consists of 156 canoes for 1 800 fishermen,
over the past five years, there has been an overall increase in canoe motorization and utilization of ice all along the coast of Côte d'Ivoire, as a result of development actions initiated by the Government. The number of cannoes has increased in the western region of the country,
fishing gears remained unchanged although there is a gradual shift towards using purse seines instead of the less efficient gillnets. However, it should be noted that in Vridi, only ringnets are being used.
Industrial fishery
since the early 1980s the sardine fleet did not noticeably change, with 19 seiners now registered of which 15 to 17 are permanently in operation. Most of these boats are old built in 1964–1970) with the exception of 2 or 3 more recent units built since 1980.
it has been agreed between shipowners concerned to set an upper limit to the number of boxes to be landed per boat and per fishing trip; this limit changes almost daily depending on the overall tonnage landed and on selling prices. When catches are not abundant, landings are not controlled.
according to the shipowners, it appears that competition between artisanal and industrial fisheries is generally limited to periods of upwelling. Finally it should be mentioned that the industrial fleet continues to fish only within the EEZ of Côte d'Ivoire, in the sector between Bassam and Sassandra.
The Ghanaian pelagic fishery has already been described in detail in the reports of previous working groups. Since 1981, the industrial fishery sector has been confronted with a critical situation due to shortages in the supply of equipment and to the increasing cost of fuel. As a result of the implementation by the Government of an economic recovery plan, the situation is now improving. Table 2 gives the list of boats and gears used.
Artisanal fishery
the artisanal canoe fleet, which is generally motorized, still accounts for the largest share (75 to 90%) in total landings of pelagic species. Its catches are made up of Sardinella and Scomber japonicus and it lands all anchovies in Ghana.
the frame survey of 1986 gives a figure of 8 288 canoes, or a 19.5% increase as compared to 1981 (6 938 canoes). However, from the time series since 1969 it is evident that the 1981 figure had been underestimated which would imply that, in fact, the number of canoes did not increase between 1981 and 1986.
the same fishing gears continue to be used, i.e., the beach seine Ali, Poli and Watsa nets, but with an increase, since 1981, in the number of canoes using the Ali, Poli and Watsa nets.
Semi-industrial fishery
The number of semi-industrial boats has been decreasing steadily; there are now about 400 units of which 230 are fully operational. The length of these boats varies between 8 and 30 m although there is a trend towards longer units. Gravely affected by the various factors mentioned above, the fleet is now recovering and it is expected that by 1989, some 380 boats will be operational.
Industrial fishery
The industrial fleet consists of boats of more than 35 m; since the creation of the EEZ, they operate in Ghanaian waters. Most of these boats are bottom trawlers although they catch large quantities of Sardinella.
The tuna fleet based in Tema and/or operating in Ghanaian waters also catches anchovies which are used as bait to fish tuna.
Pelagic species are mainly caught by the artisanal fleet. According to a 1984 census by the Fishery Directorate, some 3 000 fishermen operate 609 canoes of which 289 are motorized. The same survey indicates that the following gears are used: 93 beach seines; 62 purse seines; 241 floating nets; 521 sardinella ringnets; 515 shark nets. As estimated by the IDAF Project/Fishery Directorate, the fleet has landed some 7 000 t of various fish species of which 60% are pelagic.
Annual landings are made up mainly ofIlisha africana, Engraulis encrasicolus, Sardinella maderensis and Scombero morus tritor.
Presently, there is a strong migration of fishermen from along the coast to the port of Cotonou which offers better marketing opportunities and where the “bar” is absent. The result is a gradual reduction in activity on beach landing sites.
It should be noted that the IDAF model project, by introducing new line and bottom net fishing techniques, is promoting production diversification which, in the longer run, may result in reduced effort on the lower value pelagic resources.
The dominant character of the Togolese fisheries is the dichotomy between the port of Lome and the rest of the coastline:
in Lome, there is a pelagic fleet using Watsa and Ali nets; this fishery, dominated by migrant fishermen from Ghana, is highly seasonal when practised with Watsa nets but less so when Ali nets are used.
along the rest of the coast, fishing with canoes using beach seines and Ali nets is a continued activity practised by sedentary fishermen. Canoes are not, or are only rarely motorized.
The migration trend of fishermen from the coast to Lome is increasing over the years, and the movement is further accelerated by the rapid coastal erosion which affects the eastern area (between Lome and the border of Benin).
Since 1981, an increase in the number of Ghanaian fishermen was noted in 1982, 1983 and 1984 (in October 1983, they were equipped with 97 beach seines, 255 Watsa ringnets and 72 Ali nets). Since 1985 these figures are on the decrease, a trend to be related to improved economic conditions in Ghana.
Catches are made up mainly of Engraulis encrasicolus, and to a lesser degree, of Sardinella aurita and Sardinella maderensis.
