Temperature - European Investment Bank

WEST AFRICAN POWER POOL (WAPP) PÖYRY ENERGY LTD.
Mount Coffee HPP ESIA and RAP 2012-09-18
ESIA Report Page 75
Chrisichthys sp. (white catfish or «Bonbong Koulo »): As most catfish, have ancestral
benthic feeding habits. Live on small mollusks, small fish and zooplankton. They are
non-aggressive stalking predators that hunt at night or in turbid water using primary
nonvisual sense organs. Weberian apparatus for sound production has probably resulted
in some loss of buoyancy control. As most catfish, show single or twice spawning per
year usually during flooding. Many studies were conducted in induced spawning of the
species. The presence of adequate substrates placed in the ponds may be sufficient to
provoke spontaneous spawning, but a large variety of hormones (fish gonadotropin,
various steroids) has been tried successfully for massive production of Chrisichthys
offspring. The species is well adopted in brackish water aquaculture in Cote d’Ivoire
where it constitutes a luxury fish species (Ministers’ fish). Maximum size reported 75 cm
for Chrisichthys nigrodigitatus.
Gymnarchus sp (plain fish or «Oda’a»): Ichtyophagous species, introduced to St. Paul
River. May reach very big size, 1.5 m total length, 16 kg weight in Niger Basin.
11.3.1.2 Non-fish Aquatic Biodiversity
11.3.2 Fishery
In non negligible amount, the following species were equally observed in catches and
readily available in Bensonville and Lousiana town Markets: fresh water shrimps
(Macrobrachium sp.), small white shrimp (juvenile Njouna), tortoise (Trionyx
triunguis), bull frogs (Conrua goliath, Ngoong), crabs, shells (kiss me, Tchan,
Njiakouling), clams (NDODO; Njô). Otters (Lutra maculicollis, Nounoung), crocodiles
(Crocodylus niloticus, Mfalle), and varans (Varanus niloticus) were reported to be
caught sporadically by fishermen.
11.3.3 Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture in Liberia
Based on an interview of the key responsible in the Bureau of Fisheries, production
statistics are scanty (Weefar, pers comm). The best estimate for marine and aquaculture
productions respectively stand at 12,000 and 70 tons. No data, even estimates, is
available for inland fisheries, and the officer in charge would welcome any result from
the current survey. Fisheries staff is currently very limited and with insufficient
technical skill. Only 6 extension agents are available nationwide for aquaculture. There
are 3 public aquaculture stations at Klay, Zedru, Bount county, and the total number of
fish farmers is estimated at 3333 farmers. No data is available for capture fisheries. A
Fisheries Development Plan is still under discussion, with support from a regional
Fisheries Development Institution (GCLM). Staff national wide comprise 14 staff
including 9 inspectors and 5 supporting technicians, to control about 111 landing sites.
Forbidden fishing practices, namely with chemicals (DDT) and dynamite, are observed
in Liberian waters, but shortage of repressive capability against default fishermen is
noticed.
11.3.3.1 Features of Fishermen and Fishing Grounds
All interviewed fishermen are living less than 2 km from the riverside. Location of PRA
meetings are provided in Figure 11-1 (white circles).