ANNEXE 16

SOME ASPECTS OF THE GAMBIAN PELAGIC FISHERY 1985–1988

BY MOMODOU CHAM

MAY, 1989

INTRODUCTION

The Gambia is a narrow strip of land located on the bulge of West Africa surrounded by the Republic of Senegal on all sides except on the Atlantic Coast. The country has a coast line of 70 Km, and the whole country is about 325 Km in total length.

The hydrology of the Gambian coastal waters has three distinct features; the cold season (Dec.-April) when the water temperature is less than 24 °C and salinity is greater than 35%, the warm season (May-Sept) when the temperature is more than 24 °C and salinity is greater than 35%, the warm unsaline season (Oct.-Nov) when the water temperature excceds 24°C but the salinity is less than 35%.

THE PELAGIC FISHERY

This fishery had been the most important in the Gambia even before the advent of the industrial sector in the Gambian fisheries. The pelagic fishery contributes significantly in the artisanal landing - about 60% (table I). In the artisanal sector the main species include the Ethmalosa, Caranx, and Trachurus, with Ethmalosa contributing more than 90% of the total pelagic landings. These species are usually caught by encircling gill nets of 250–300 metres long, 10 m deep with a stretched mesh size of 6–7 cm (table II).

In the industrial sector, small pelagics such as the Sardinella are landed mostly by the Seagull Cold Stores, a locally based company. This company operates a fleet of purse seiners (Table III) that land the catch either at the factory for processing for eventual shipment to Ghana or onboard freezer/carrier vessels.

In 1985 pelagic species accounted for less than 10% of total industrial production, but rose to more than 20% and 40% in 1986 and 1987 respectively (Table V). In 1988, the Seagull Company landed more than 5.500 tons of Sardinella (Table V). It should be noted however that the Seagull fleet operates in both Gambian and Senegalese waters.

Another fishery that was virtually unexploited is beginning to gain significance. With the recently concluded E E C/ Gambian agreement, purse seiners and liners, mostly from France, Greece and Spain, have been increasing in participation in the tuna fishery. As yet, nil catch is reported from there vessels, but nonetheless the characteristics of this fleet is given in Table VI.

Source: Fisheries Department, Frame Survey.

The trips were for collection and supply of food items to other vessels and for freezing.

G= Gambian Flagged Vessel

F= Foreign Flagged Vessel