THE LAKE TANGANYIKA CLUPEID AND LATID FISHERY SYSTEM: INDICATORS AND PROBLEMS INHERENT IN ASSESSMENTS AND MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The clupeid and latid fisheries of Lake Tanganyika are described. The paper introduces and applies to those fisheries for the first time the two concepts of métier and fishery system. The fisheries are space-structured, international, multi-species, multi-métier and multi-fleet. The corresponding fishery system consists of the biological, social and economic sub-systems, based on fish populations, métiers, and national and regional markets, respectively. Lack of comprehensive qualitative and quantitative economic indicators handicaps the implementation or development of bio-economic fisheries models, and the assessment of markets dynamics. The available information for the biological and social sub-systems is heterogeneous and incomplete. As a result, the population and fleet dynamics cannot be currently assessed for national fisheries altogether. The spatial and temporal distribution of the fishing activities and the nature of the available information suggest that the biological and social dynamics can be assessed nationally or locally. The "spatial" global or analytical models, eventually incorporating the predation interactions, are particularly worth exploring toward achieving a proper management of national/local fisheries.