| Resumo: |
Data used to generate the tables and figures presented here are based on daily catch and effort forms (logbooks) returned from fishing vessels that are licensed to fish in the Seychelles EEZ and from data collected via the tuna sampling programme conducted during transhipment in port Victoria. Sometimes there is a delay in these being received at SFA, especially during and just after the second quarter of the year when most vessels are fishing in the Mozambique Channel. Readers should note that many of the figures presented here are subject to revision (usually upwards) as more data become available. The date upon which the SFA database was closed prior to the generation of the statistical tables is shown at the head of each table. PURSE SEINERS PRINCIPAL-POINTS: The reviewed tuna catch reported in the Western Indian Ocean by Purse seiners licensed to operate inside of the Seychelles EEZ in 2002 was a record of 378,027MT. This was achieved by an average of 50 vessels licensed per month. The total effort reported for the purse seine tuna fleet during 2002 was 13,151 days, with a mean catch rate of 28.7SMT/fishing day. The catch reported within the second semester of 2003 was a total of 231,772MT obtained from a total effort of 5,997 days. Thus giving a mean catch rate of 38.65MT/day. The catch reported for the same• period of the previous year was 230,103MT and the reported fishing effort and catch rate were 6,768 fishing days and 34.00MT/fishing day respectively. The total catch reported by Purse Seiners licensed in Seychelles during the whole of 2003 was 408,366MT, representing an increase of 8% (30,339MT) over the previous year. The fishing effort recorded during 2003 was 11,712 fishing days, that is 11% lower than in 2002. A mean catch rate of 34.87MT/ fishing day was recorded in 2003. The total catch and catch rate recorded in 2003 is the highest reported so far. This was achieved by an average of 43 vessels active per month. During 2003 yellowfin has replaced skipjack as the dominant caught tuna species. Readers should note that the catch compositions recorded by fishermen in their daily catch and effort reports were corrected based on scientific sampling carried out during transhipment or landing in Port Victoria. 1.Table 3 shows purse seine transhipment or landing statistics by harbour.It should be noted that the figures represent the transhipment or landing of vessels whose trips ENDED in the month indicated and NOT the actual month of physical transhipment or landing of the catch. During the Second semester of 2003 transhipments and landings through Port Victoria amounted to 215,879MT, compared to 213,995MT reported during the same period of 2002. •For the whole year of 2003 a total of 359,379MT of tuna was unloaded through Port Victoria compared to 335,547MT for the year 2002. This represent 88% of the total catch for the year 2003 and an increase of 7% over the previous year. Maps of fishing grounds exploited during the year 2003 show an increase in activities in the Western part of Seychelles. A reduction in activities in the Mozambique Channel and Chagos area was also reported.
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