Pelagic fish,including sardines and anchovies(Order Clupeiformes),are the most common species taken by artisanal marine fisheries along the Togolese coast.We investigated fisher involvement as well as fish captures ov...Pelagic fish,including sardines and anchovies(Order Clupeiformes),are the most common species taken by artisanal marine fisheries along the Togolese coast.We investigated fisher involvement as well as fish captures over a period of 10 years,particularly of the European anchovy(Engraulis encrasicolus).Our results indicate that 60%of fishers operated from the Loméfishing harbour,most fishers being Ghanaians working seasonally in Togo.63.7%of all the fishers used canoes with outboards,a higher percentage compared to the previous decades.Seven fishing gear type were identified,with bottom gillnet and surface gillnet being the most commonly used.However,in the most important fishing camp in the country in terms of fish production(Loméfishing harbour),all fishers used shark nets.Overall,fisheries catches did not change significantly across years,but anchovy fishing effort and catch per unit of effort(CPUE)declined over the study period,suggesting some depletion of the species stocks on the Togolese coast and a demotivation of fishers.展开更多
Based on strandings and captures,9 cetacean species,including 6 odontocetes and 3 mysticetes,are document-ed(photos and specimens)in Togo’s coastal waters(newly-recorded species marked with an asterisk):Antarc-tic mi...Based on strandings and captures,9 cetacean species,including 6 odontocetes and 3 mysticetes,are document-ed(photos and specimens)in Togo’s coastal waters(newly-recorded species marked with an asterisk):Antarc-tic minke whale(Balaenoptera bonaerensis*),Bryde’s whale(Balaenoptera brydei or B.edeni),humpback whale(Megaptera novaeangliae),sperm whale(Physeter macrocephalus),pygmy sperm whale(Kogia brevi-ceps*),short-finned pilot whale(Globicephala macrorhynchus*),pantropical spotted dolphin(Stenella attenu-ata*),common bottlenose dolphin(Tursiops truncatus)and common dolphin Delphinus sp.An anecdotal sight-ing record for killer whale(Orcinus orca)is considered reliable.The lack of Sousa teuszii records in Togo is consistent with its apparent contemporaneous absence in Ghana.The B.bonaerensis specimen,entangled in a purse seine set on small pelagics,is a first record for the Gulf of Guinea.The occurrence of this Southern Ocean species north of the equator underscores the severe gaps in our understanding of cetacean distribution off west-ern Africa.The majority of artisanal fishermen operating in Togolese coastal waters are of Ghanaian origin and are thought to promote trade and consumption of cetacean bushmeat.Because captures are illegal,enforced with some success in the main fishing centers,covert landings of cetaceans are exceedingly difficult to moni-tor,quantify or sample.Concern is expressed about pollution of Togo’s coastal waters with heavy metals due to phosphorite mining and export from the coastal basin near Hahotoéand Kpogamé.展开更多
文摘Pelagic fish,including sardines and anchovies(Order Clupeiformes),are the most common species taken by artisanal marine fisheries along the Togolese coast.We investigated fisher involvement as well as fish captures over a period of 10 years,particularly of the European anchovy(Engraulis encrasicolus).Our results indicate that 60%of fishers operated from the Loméfishing harbour,most fishers being Ghanaians working seasonally in Togo.63.7%of all the fishers used canoes with outboards,a higher percentage compared to the previous decades.Seven fishing gear type were identified,with bottom gillnet and surface gillnet being the most commonly used.However,in the most important fishing camp in the country in terms of fish production(Loméfishing harbour),all fishers used shark nets.Overall,fisheries catches did not change significantly across years,but anchovy fishing effort and catch per unit of effort(CPUE)declined over the study period,suggesting some depletion of the species stocks on the Togolese coast and a demotivation of fishers.
文摘Based on strandings and captures,9 cetacean species,including 6 odontocetes and 3 mysticetes,are document-ed(photos and specimens)in Togo’s coastal waters(newly-recorded species marked with an asterisk):Antarc-tic minke whale(Balaenoptera bonaerensis*),Bryde’s whale(Balaenoptera brydei or B.edeni),humpback whale(Megaptera novaeangliae),sperm whale(Physeter macrocephalus),pygmy sperm whale(Kogia brevi-ceps*),short-finned pilot whale(Globicephala macrorhynchus*),pantropical spotted dolphin(Stenella attenu-ata*),common bottlenose dolphin(Tursiops truncatus)and common dolphin Delphinus sp.An anecdotal sight-ing record for killer whale(Orcinus orca)is considered reliable.The lack of Sousa teuszii records in Togo is consistent with its apparent contemporaneous absence in Ghana.The B.bonaerensis specimen,entangled in a purse seine set on small pelagics,is a first record for the Gulf of Guinea.The occurrence of this Southern Ocean species north of the equator underscores the severe gaps in our understanding of cetacean distribution off west-ern Africa.The majority of artisanal fishermen operating in Togolese coastal waters are of Ghanaian origin and are thought to promote trade and consumption of cetacean bushmeat.Because captures are illegal,enforced with some success in the main fishing centers,covert landings of cetaceans are exceedingly difficult to moni-tor,quantify or sample.Concern is expressed about pollution of Togo’s coastal waters with heavy metals due to phosphorite mining and export from the coastal basin near Hahotoéand Kpogamé.
