The overfishing is the central problem of the Mugil cephalus fisheries in the estuary of the Senegal River. This species lives in the sea during its adult stage but returns in the Senegal River to reproduce and to spend its larval and juvenile stages. This study is aimed to pinpoint the state of exploitation dynamic and to assess the M. cephalus stock. The FISAT II software was used to perform the estimate of recruitment, mortality and exploitation rates. Meanwhile, a virtual population analysis using VIT4 software estimated yield per recruit (Y/R). The analysis yielded exploitation rates E of 0.44 and 0.23 respectively for adult fish and juveniles; therefore the adult stock is overfished during the M. cephalus life stage in sea. In addition, natural mortality (M=1.20 year-1) and total mortality (Z=1.5 year-1) are remarkably high for fish mature age groups III, IV and V. However, in the river the maximum sustainable exploitation (0.50) is not exceeded for juveniles age groups 0+, I and II. In conclusion, management policies should be introduced to safeguard the M. cephalus fishery in the estuary of the Senegal River.

Author Name: SARR Serigne Modou, KABRE Tinkoudgou Jean-André and CECCHI Philippe

URL: View PDF

Keywords: Mugil cephalus, mortality, exploitation, recruitment, stock assessment, Senegal River.

ISSN:

EISSN: 2350-1561

EOI/DOI:

Add Citation Views: 4682

---