Characterization of the production factors of the fishing industry and specific diversity in the Aghien lagoon (Ivory Coast)

Abstract

The study of fishing activity on the Aghien Lagoon (Ivory Coast, West Africa), conducted from April 2019 to May 2020 identified 402 fishermen. This population is composed of Ivorians (73.38%) and foreigners (26.62%). The fishing activity is controlled by two categories of fishermen: professionals who only fish (42.53%) and occasional fishermen with an accessory activity (57.47%). Ivorian fishermen are mostly farmer-fishermen. The fishing activity is dominated in this lagoon by adults between 30 and 45 years old (48.26%). These fishermen have a high literacy rate (73%). The fishing techniques used in this lagoon are pots, hawks, gillnets, longlines, beach seines and bamboo traps. The high presence of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus in the catches of all the gears could lead to an imbalance in this ecosystem containing 45 species divided into 25 families and 8 orders.