| Fish from lagoon and reef in New Caledonia are mainly caught by artisanal fisheries and subsistence fishing. The present study aimed at estimating these fish standing stocks, at finding the main factors influencing the spatial distribution of these fish, and at estimating the maximum sustainable yield with considerations for socio-economic aspects sensu late. A total of 1406 stations was surveyed in the Northern Province of New Caledonia. Sampling was stratified according to three zones (north, east and west) and three biotopes (coral reefs, near-reef areas and lagoon bottoms). This work demonstrates the existence of important fish stocks of commercial interest in reefal and lagoonal waters of the Northern Province, estimated at about 138 300 t. The... |
