Characterization of fishing activity in the RFLO

In Cameroon, the growing consumption of fish for its nutritional virtues is contributing to pressure on the resource. With this in mind, a study was carried out as part of the Insertion Professionnel internship on basic fishing data characterizing fishing activity in the Lac Ossa Wildlife Reserve, focusing on ichthyological diversity and fishing gear technology. This internship took place from March 2019 to February 2020 in the Sanaga Maritime Department in Dizanguè within the Association des Volontaires pour le Développement de Dizanguè (AVDD). The surveys enabled us to identify 157 fishermen, 98% of them men, who carry out their activities in the lake, all from Cameroonian communities, namely the Malimba, Bakoko, Bassa’a and Donga. Sampling was carried out over a six-month period at four landing stages: Beach, Mevia, KM3 and Lindema. A data collection sheet was used to track fishermen’s catches and observations of the characteristics of their gear and boats. Of the 77,398 fish landed, identification revealed 35 species, 23 families and 29 genera.