There Are a Variety of Fish Species Harvested in Africa Like Cat Fish
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FISHING IN AFRICA Fishing is an important sector contributing to the growth and development of many countries in Africo. It involves the harvest of aquatic resources. There are a variety of fish species harvested in Africa like cat fish, sharks, herrings, shrimp, tuna, sardines, hake, lung fish, whales, electric fish, mud fish, silver fish, and lion lobster, pilchards, which are for domestic and commercial purpose. African fisheries are subdivided into two: Fresh water- concerned with rearing and harvesting fish from relatively shallow water which is fresh like ponds, streams, rivers, swamps, lakes, etc partially for domestic and then commercial purpose especially the foreign market that desires fresh fish from uncontaminated water bodies. Marine water- concerned with rearing and harvesting fish from relatively deep water that is saline e.g. sea or ocean and along coasts for the tourist market at the coast and the foreign market at large that enjoys marine fish which is not very common with the native communities that live near oceans. Sketch map showing fresh and marine water fisheries Methods of Fishing There are both traditional and modern methods used to harvest fish for domestic and commercial purposes. (a)Traditional methods. They are used to catch fish on a small scale and mainly for domestic use. It involves spearing, use of baskets, hand hooks, etc (b) Modern methods. They are used to catch fish on a large scale or for commercial purposes. They include Gill netst, long lining, purse seining, trawling etc. Methods of Preservation (a) Traditional methods:. They include: Sun drying,Salting,Smoking etc (b) Modern methods: Refrigeration, canning or tinning etc Factors that favour fishing in Africa Presence of cold and warm ocean currents that oxygenate water and favor plankton growth Presence of a number of fishing grounds ranging from swamps, rivers, lakes, etc thus a big harvest. Presence of a wide continental shelf less than 62m in depth favors light penetration for plankton growth Presence of a Large population providing labour market for fish Presence of long coastline with various breeding grounds Presence of an Indented coastline for easy construction of harbors and landing sites Presence of variety of fish species like pilchards, sardines, lobsters, sharks, etc Availability of adequate capital to buy fishing gears Availability of supportive Government policies of diversifying the economies thus investigation in different sectors. Availability of modern and efficient fishing methods like gill netting, etc thus big harvests. Availability of relative Political stability attracting both local and foreign investors Uses of Fish Food and basic protein Making of animal feeds Making of fertilizers A leather material for making shoes, belts and bags Making of edible oil Making of cosmetics and soap Importance Source of food rich in proteins Job opportunities to mongers, officials, processors, etc Government revenue through taxation and licensing Foreign exchange through export of fish Stimulation of industrialization as a raw material Stimulated growth and development of ports and landing sites Economic diversification basically from agriculture Attraction of tourists through sport fishing Research and study in fishing related activities and marine life Infrastructure development linking coastal or shore landing sites to industries and towns International trade and relations between nations Conservation of marine life and extinct species Factors limiting Fishing in Africa Most of Africa’s coastline is nearly straight limiting construction of harbors and landing sites Presence of coral reefs that interfere with movement of fishing vessels and nets Limited edible fish species Low levels of technology used for fishing in remote areas like poisoning, basket, etc Traditional preservation methods that cannot keep fish for long compromising the quality of fish. Limited market for fish as some tribes prefer fish as a taboo Limited capital to buy better fishing gears/equipment Competition for fishing grounds among countries like France, Spain, Poland fishing near Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea, etc Poorly developed transport and communication networks that limit marketing of fish Much of Africa lies in the tropics with hot temperatures all the year round limiting fish metabolism. Political instability which has characterized many African countries which prevents long term planning for development of the sector Indiscriminate fishing with illegal nets and use of bad methods like poisoning Measures of improving Fishing sector Introduction of improved methods like motorized vessels, trawling, purse seining, etc Introduction of better preservation methods like cold storage Training of fish staff in the management and control of fisheries Formation of fishing co-operatives to raise capital collectively and conserving the fish Construction and rehabilitation of existing transport routes to link landing sites like roads and railway Setting up of fish processing industries to improve the quality of fish. Educating the people on the value of eating fish Introducing of fish farming in the area Introduction of marketable species like tuna, cod, mackerel, Nile perch etc Attracting of foreign investors for capital and technology Setting up strict laws against indiscriminate fishing and other poor fishing methods Introduction and encouraging of fish farming to increase the amount of fish caught. Case study: North West African Fisheries. It is a major fishing ground in Africa. The fishing ground extends from the Mediterranean Sea up to the Atlantic ocean an It is mainly centred along Moroccan coast. It has several fishing ports including: Casablanca, Kenetra, Agadier, El jadid Ifni, Safi, Rabat, Tangier, Melilla, etc. The main fish species caught include: tuna, mackerel, anchovy and sardines. A sketch map showing the extent of Moroccan Fishing ground. Modern methods are used to catch and preserving fish.. this ensures efficiency thus high quality and quantity of caught. Xxxxxxxxxxx half a page. WEST AFRICAN FISHERIES It is located along the coast of West Africa. It includes countries like Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory coast, Mauritania, Togo,Benin,Mali, Niger etc Mauritania and Senegal are the most important because of the influence of the cold cannary current. Species of fish caught along West African coast include herrings, sardines and tuna. Different methods are used to catch fish including both traditional and modern methods.. Gill nets are widely used and in Ghana, they are known as Ali Modern presentation methods are used in addition to the traditional ones. Refrigerators are widely used along West African coast. Many industries have been set up to process and pack fish . processing industies are found in major towns like Abidjan, Lagos, Dakar, Monrovia, Free Town, etc. Xxxxxxxxxxx a sketch map showing the extent of West African Fisheries Half page South West African Fisheries This fishing ground is mainly centred along Namibia coast.. The major fishing ports are Walvis Bay, luderitz,swakopmund and Cape Frio Pilchards and lobsters are the most important species caught along Namibia coast. Modern methods are used to catch and preserve fish. Much of the fish caught is processed into fish meal and fish oil.. The main market for fish from Namibia is from South Africa. Xxxxxxxxxxx a sketch map showing the extent of the South West African Fisheries Half a page Occurrenceofaccidentsduetode-railingdamagingwagons FORESTRY IN AFRICA Forestry is the exploitation of the forest resource. The African continent is gifted with hard wood rain forests and soft wood forests. Forestry is important to the economy of many countries Africa including Gabon and Swaziland. Forestry in Gabon It is one of the African countries whose economy is based on forestry. The country has a wide variety of commercial tree species which provide hard wood timber including: okoume, ozigo, ilomba, azobe, padouk, mahogany, kevazingo, ebony, dibetou, movingui, zingana, etc. Okoume is the most important in the country. Sketch map showing forest cover Factors that favored the growth of the forestry sector in Gabon Presence of large forest cover as Much of the country is covered by natural and man-made forests supporting limbering. Presence of several commercial tree species like okoume, ebony, ozigo and mahogany which attract wide market. Presence of a number of navigable rivers like Ogooue and Ngounie which provide cheap transportation of logs to the coast. Availability of sufficient capital by the foreign companies from USA, Japan, Indonesia, and the government Presence of skilled labor for felling trees, cutting into logs, etc Availability of Efficient transport and communication networks like road, railway, water, etc Availability of Supportive government policy that enhanced sustainable use of the forest Presence of Relatively infertile soils that could not support arable farming leaving large piece of land for the growth of forests. Presence of Conducive equatorial climate with 22º-27 temperatures, 1500-2400mm of rainfall that favors tropical rain forest growth Importance of the forestry sector to Gabon Provide timber for domestic and industrial use Sources of rivers like Ogooue and Ngounie Industrial development in the area like saw mills, furniture Infrastructure development like Trans-Gabon railway and Ndjole-Bitam highway Enhancement of wildlife conservation like reserve du Fouari, reserve du Nyanga, pare nationale du Petit Loango, pare nationale de l’Okanda, etc Foreign