Foreign Fishery Developments GROUNDS Lobster is particularly abundant in Gambia Studies Spiny Lobster Decline the areas off Cape Bald and Point Sanyang. In this region there are three The Gambian lobster catch during the subject of study by the Fisheries important lobster fishing centers: Bru­ the 1973-74 season amounted to 65 Division of the Gambian Ministry of fut, Batu Kunku, and Sanyang. Other metric tons (t) worth US$283,000, a Agriculture and Natural Resource important villages to the south are significant decline from the record 1965 which has become concerned about Gunjur and Kartung (Fig. 1). It season when 120 t of lobster were possible overfishing. appears that these villages are situated caught. The fishery has recently been BIOLOGICAL DATA inland. along a highway, rather than Table 1.-5enegalese lobst8l' canoes oper­ directly on the coast. ating In Gambia, by fishing cent81's. The spiny lobsters caught by the Senegalese and Gambian fishermen in FLEET FISHING METHODS Year Gambian waters include: Panulirus ris­ Almost all of Gambia's lobsters are harvested by Senegalese fishermen Centers 1974 1972 1966 1962 soni, P. regius. Palinurus charlestoni, and P. mauritanicus. Their food con­ who operate more than 60 canoes, Brufut '17 NA 22 NA sists of fish, other lobsters. shellfish, some motorized. from five fishing Batu Kunku 4 NA 2 NA sanyang 9 NA 0 NA and dead marine animals. They are centers in Gambia (Table 1). Gill nets Gunjur 9 NA 5 NA are used to harvest the lobster in Kartung 26 NA 8 NA bottom dwelling, usually perferring rocky bottoms and coral reefs. Palin­ shallow waters up to 5 meters deep. Total 66 66 37 6 urus mauritanicus. however. is often Because the lobsters are more active at night, fishing operations take place 'Includes four Gambian canoes. found in deep waters where the bottom Source: W. J. Scheffers and N. Hellevang. is sandy or muddy. Spiny lobsters mainly after dark. Each canoe carries 1975. Aspects of the Lobster Fishery In The Gambia. Fisheries Publication No. 11. grow fairly slowly, taking about 7 or 8 between six and eight men and sets as Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Re­ many as 100 nets per trip. After the sources, Fisheries Division, Banjul, May years to reach maturity but may live 50 1975, p. 4. years or more. lobsters are landed, they are kept alive in floating wooden crates near the shore until they can be sold. The Table 2.-Gamblan lobst8l' fishing data for selected years. lobster season begins in October with Total Catch (kg) Total Total' the arrival of the Senegalese fishermen No. of catch canoe Price value value and extends until the end of June when season' canoes (t) per night (dalasis/kg) (dalasis) (US$) the rainy season begins. 1961-62 6 50 40 2.50 125,000 70,000 1964-65 37 120 15 2.46 295,000 165,200 CATCH 1971-72 66 80 5 7.50 600,000 300,000 1973-74 66 65 6.5 7.50 487,500 282,750 The Gambian lobster catch has de­ clined since 1965 when an estimated J The lobster season is from October to June. 120 t of lobsters were harvested (Table 'Based on the exchange rate effective on 31 December of each season. Source: Scheffers and Hellevang (Footnote 1, Table 1). 2). An elevenfold increase in the number of canoes in the lobster fishery between 1962 and 1974 has been ac­ companied by a decline in the catch per canoe from 40 kg per night to only 6.5 kg (Table 2). The increase in lobster prices, however, has resulted in an in­ crease in the value of the Gambian lobster catch even though the quantity caught and yield per vessel have declined. Gambian officials report, Batu however, that reliable data is difficult Kunku to obtain from the Gambian and Senegalese traders who market lob­ ster. Therefore the data in Table 2 must be treated with some caution. MARKETING Most of the lobster caught by the artisanal fishermen is collected by a vessel operating from Dakar, Senegal, which makes weekly runs supplying the Senegalese fishermen with food, Figure 1. -Gambian lobster fishing centers. gasoline, and netting materials. 90 Marine Fisheries Review Another part of the catch is bought Gambian Government to take greater the coast of the U.S. since the enact­ from the Senegalese fishermen by interest in the rational management of ment by U.S. Congress of the Fishery Gambian traders who sell the lobster to the resource. The Gambian Fisheries Conservation and Management Act of either a Gambian company, Gambia Division has suggested several steps to 1976 (FCMA). (Source: U.S. Embassy, Fisheries Ltd., or directly to Sene­ remedy the lack of accurate catch and Warsaw.) galese exporting companies in Dakar. export data, and to assess stock condi­ In addition, a small portion is caught by tions. First, it recommends that all Japan Lists 1976 North Gambian fishermen, either intention­ fishermen involved in the exploitation ally, or incidentally with their primary of Gambian lobster, no matter what Pacific, Eastern Bering catches of white fish and is sold locally their nationality, be required to reg­ Sea, Fishing Vessels to hotels during the tourist season. ister with the Gambian government The Japanese Fisheries Agency li­ and supply catch and export figures to censed a total of 1,208 fishing vessels to COMPANIES the Fisheries Division. The collected fish in North Pacific and eastern Bering data could be used to assess the con­ Domestic and foreign companies Sea grounds in 1976, according to the dition of the lobster stocks and provide have been involved in the catching and NMFS Office of International Fisheries. the basis for the imposition of any marketing of Gambian lobster. In 1966, The largest number of licenses was necessary regulations to prevent over­ the Atlantic Marine Company, based in issued for the North Pacific salmon fishing. Banjul (Fig. 1) began to exploit the mothership fleets. Many licenses were The Gambian Fisheries Division is lobster resources. The company's at­ also issued to the land-based salmon considering three plans to reorganize tempt to employ Gambian fishermen vessels operating south of lat. 48°N the lobster industry. First, Gambia failed due to their lack of experience in and west of long. 175°W, reflecting the might allow the Senegalese to continue lobster fishing. Atlantic Marine was importance of Japan's salmon catch. to harvest the lobster, but would forced to recruit 80 Senegalese fisher­ A large number of licenses was also impose an export duty on all lobster men who began lobstering with 15 issued for the Bering Sea surimi leaving the country. Second, a Gam­ motorized canoes. At first Atlantic vessels which fish for Alaska pollock. bian company might be set up to collect Marine exported over half of its The following table gives a detailed the lobster from both Gambian and products by air to France (via Dakar) look at Japan's North Pacific effort in Senegalese fishermen. A third possi­ as the exports of France's former 1976, according to statistics on licenses bility under consideration would be to colonies are exempted from a 25 issued by the Japanese government. percent duty levied by the Common train Gambian fishermen to harvest lobster and to supply them with the Market on lobster imported from non­ Tabls 1.-Japansss veessls licensed for Nor1h member countries. By 1968, most of necessary equipment so that they could Pacific and Bering sea Flsherlss, 1976. the company's exports were being gradually take over lobster fishing from the Senegalese. Molher- Olher shipped to Las Palmas in the Canary Fishery ships vessels Tolal Islands. In 1971, the company termi­ North Pacific Inde- nated its lobster operations after un­ GIFA Signed by pendenllrawlers 0 42 42 disclosed problems developed with the Bering Sea surlml U.S. and Poland vessels 11 198 209 Gambian Government. North Pacific long- A Senegalese company, Bafa-Adri­ Representatives of the governments line gilinel vessels I 0 22 22 Hokulensen (North- Peche, was established in Banjul to of Poland and the United States signed lurned vessels)' 0 162 162 Easlern Bering Sea market shrimp and lobster in 1972. The on 2 August 1976 in Warsaw a new crab vessels' 2 12 14 company ceased its Gambian opera­ agreement relating to Polish fishing off North Pacific salmon molhershlp fleels' 10 332 342 tions abruptly in 1973 for unknown the coasts of the United States. The North Pacific pelagic reasons. At present, Gambia Fisheries new agreement will come into force whaling fleel 1 9 10 Snail fishing vessels 0 19 19 Ltd., local Gambian traders, and the following a review by the appropriate Land-based gilinel operators of weekly boats, from Dakar authorities of the two countries. Nego­ fishing vessels',oper- atlng soulh of 48· N 0 265 265 are the main marketing outlets for tiations on this "governing interna­ Land-based gilinel fishing vessels' oper- Gambian lobster. tional fisheries agreement" (GIFA) allng soulh of 45°N 0 B3 B3 In the past, Gambian lobster has began in Montreal, Canada, in June Tolal 24 1,184 1.208 been exported to France, Senegal, and 1976 during the Annual Meeting of the the Canary Islands. United States International Commission for the 'These gilinet vessels do not fish for salmon; they Northwest Atlantic Fisheries and were longllne for sableflsh which Is their most Important import statistics indicate that the catch, United States does not import any successfully completed on 31 July. The 'Of the 162 Hokutensen, 154 vessels are licensed full-time and the remaining 26 vessels are licensed Gambian lobster, either directly or via GIFA establishes the arrangements on a seasonal basis.