State of Biodiversity and Environmental Conditions of Fishery Species Exploited on the Coasts of Gonaïves: The Case of Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis) and Black Axillary Mojarra (Eugerres axillaris)
- Canoes make up 81.28 percent of boats surveyed in Gonaïves and corallins 18.72 percent.
- Nets are the most used gear at 73.80 percent, followed by seines (12.83 percent), traps (8.56 percent) and spearguns (4.81 percent).
- More than 40 species were inventoried; common snook (15.07 percent), Gerres (14.21 percent), mullet (9.89 percent), snapper (6.29 percent) and black axillary mojarra (4.85 percent) are the most represented in catches.
- 82 percent of catches are taken in the lagoon, 11.76 percent in seagrass beds and 6.42 percent in mixed habitat, at depths not exceeding 20 fathoms.
- Both target species show negative allometric growth (b below 3) and low Fulton condition indices with no significant difference between size classes.
Fieldwork in February 2022 covered the landing sites of Gonaïves (Pas Raboto, Pas Agwe, Pas Mon Re, Pas Daniel, Pas Jubile and Pas Bodmè). The study used stratified random sampling of boats in two strata, dugout canoes (canots) and corallins, drawing a sample of 187 boats (152 canoes and 35 corallins) from a study population of 363. It records gear, techniques, fishing habitats and species composition, and applies length-weight relationships and Fulton condition indices, compared with Student's t-test, to the two target species.
The thesis finds that fishing is concentrated on the continental shelf close to shore, since fishers' equipment does not reach beyond 20 fathoms, which puts pressure on lagoon and seagrass habitats. Both target species show negative allometric growth and low condition indices with no significant difference between size classes, which the author reads as a sign of poor environmental conditions. It reports waste dumping and other human pressure on the Gonaïves coastline and recommends more scientific research, selective gear and rules for their use, and regulation of fishing to conserve biodiversity.
How to cite
Université Episcopale d'Haïti (UNEPH), 2022, State of Biodiversity and Environmental Conditions of Fishery Species Exploited on the Coasts of Gonaïves: The Case of Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis) and Black Axillary Mojarra (Eugerres axillaris), https://haiti-maritime.org/biblio/etat-des-lieux-de-la-biodiversite-et-des-conditions-environnementales-des-especeshalieutiques-exploitees-sur-les-cotes-des-gonaives-cas-de-brochet-centropomusundecimalis-et-de-black-axillary-moja/
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- Molière Son Dormévil Louima