A review of the aquatic living resources in Gulf of Guinea lagoons, with particular emphasis on fisheries management issues.

Abstract

Estuarine waters are amongst the most productive aquatic environments in the world, and are of great socio-economic importance owing to the strong link with varions human activities. In West Africa, from Ivory Coast to Nigeria , the total surface area of coastallagoons is about 3000 km2 The aquatic resources are highly diversified and subjected to intense and diversified fishing exploitation , mainly as a food supply to a burgeoning human population. This exploitation is focused mostly on fish (Cichlidae, Claroteidae, Clupeidae) and crustacean (Peneids shrimps and crabs) species that ar e captured using individu al or collective fishing techniques. The arumal catch is highly variable and ranges between 86 kg.ha·1.yr·1 in certain areas of Nigeria to 1ton.ha·1.yr·' in parts of Bénin. The use of 'acadjas ' (i.e. parks of branches in1planted artificially Îl1 the water) temporarily boosts fish yields on a local scale but creates enviromnental and sustainability probIems that are on ly just beginning to be fully understood.