An assessment of local fisheries in Diego-Suarez Bay, Madagascar

interest in the bay by three fishermen (9%). Moral obligation, aesthetic value, religious value and tourism
were not considered to be important by any of the fisherman.
Targeting multiple families was common among fishermen with 80% targeting three or more. Fishing in
Diego-Suarez Bay targets the highest trophic level of coral reef fish, with 57% of the targeted species
being piscivores and macroinvertebrate feeders. Carangidae (Jacks), Lutjanidae and Mullidae were the
most sought after families, followed by Scaridae, Siganidae, Lethrinidae, Serranidae and Acanthuridae
(figure 3).
Percentage of fishermen
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Common
fish
Highest
income
Gear People like
these fish
Reason for targeting fish
Figure 4. Fishermen’s reasons for targeting fish species (n=40)
Percentage of fishermen
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Fishing
net
Seine net Spear gun Hook and
line
Fishing Gear Used
Used to
catching
this
species
Poison Trap
Figure 5. Percentage of fishermen using each type of fishing gear (n= 40)
Fishermen targeted fish principally due the fish being common and widely available. Income and the
availability of gear were less important. Few fishermen targeted fish because they are what people like to
eat. Other reasons included targeting species because they are considered to be large spawners, as well as,
targeting certain species allows others to thrive
The mean number of days spent fishing per week is four, with 33% of fishermen fishing every day during
the week. Monday (16%) and Sunday (11%) were the two most popular individual days to go out fishing,
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Other