Assessment of sardinella and othter small pelagics in West Africa: Progress Report 2002

The co-operation between the Dutch fisheries research institute RIVO and the Mauritanian fisheries research institute IMROP (Institut Mauritanien des Recherches Océanographiques et de Pêche) in the field of pelagic stock assessment was continued in 2002. In January, a new contract was signed between RIVO and the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries (LNV) that allowed the existing co-operation to be continued and expanded for the next three years. As a consequence, RIVO project staff was increased to three scientists who worked full-time on the project. The project contributed to two major working group meetings: the FAO working group on small pelagics in West Africa (Banjul, March 2002) and the IMROP Groupe de Travail (Nouadhibou, December 2002). Both meetings concluded that there was no evidence yet for over-exploitation of small pelagics at a regional level, but that as a precautionary measure catch levels should not be further increased. The IMROP Groupe de Travail went even further and recommended a freeze on pelagic fishing effort in the Mauritanian zone. During a survey with the Mauritanian research vessel “Al Awam” in November, large concentrations of pelagic fish were observed in the coastal waters off Nouadhibou and Cap Blanc. Especially the presence of large quantities of sardines indicated the recruitment of a strong year-class and good prospects for the sardine fishing for several years to come.