Catch-effort and fish production in small dams in the north of the Ivory Coast.

The fishing-effort and the fish production have been studied in four agropastoral dams in the north of the Ivory Coast : Sambakaha (25 ha) and Gboyo (16 ha) in the region of Ferke, Kiemou (6 ha) and Korokara serpent (15 ha) in the region of North Korhogo. The studies have shown that the fishing is mostly done by Bozos from Mall. The fishermen density by dam, from 4 to 17 fishermen km(-2), is well above FAO norms (2 fishermen km(-2)). The catch and the effort are highly variable from dam to dam. The fish production varies from 70 to 224 kg ha(-1) -y(-1), which is in the same order of magnitude as the values registered in other small dams of the West African region. Yet, catch values are under FAO potential catches given for similar water bodies (between 100 and 750 kg ha(-1)-y(-1)), indicating that there is a possibility of fish production increase. Total estimated catches in the small dams in the north of the Ivory Coast represent from 16 to 46 % of total freshwater catches. Catches include economically important fishes (Oreochromis niloticus, Heterotis niloticus, Chrysichthys spp, etc.) and marketing values indicate that the fishing activity is an important source of currency for the villages.