SCRS/22/49 Col. Vol. Sci. Pap. ICCAT, 55(1): 199-23 (23) CATCH AND EFFORT DATA OF THE MALTESE DOLPHIN FISH FISHERY (21) M. Camilleri and M. Darmanin 1 SUMMARY Catch and effort data for the Maltese traditional dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus) fishery have been collected by stratum since 2 within the framework of the FAO sub-regional project COPEMED. A brief description of the gear used, the type of fishing vessels and the management of the fishery, together with the catch and effort data for 21 are presented in this paper. RÉSUMÉ Les données de prise et effort pour la pêcherie traditionnelle maltaise de la coryphène commune (Coryphaena hippurus) sont recueillies par strate depuis l an 2 dans le cadre du projet sousrégional FAO-COPEMED. Le présent document fournit une brève description de l engin utilisé, du type de bateaux de pêche et de la gestion de la pêcherie, et indique également les données de prise et effort pour 21. RESUMEN Los datos de captura y esfuerzo para la pesquería tradicional de lampuga (Coryphaena hippurus) de Malta se han recogido por estratos desde 2 en el marco del proyecto subregional COPEMED de la FAO. En este documento se presenta una breve descripción del arte utilizado, el tipo de barco de pesca y la ordenación de pesquería, junto con los datos de captura y esfuerzo para 21. KEY WORDS Coryphaena hippurus, fishing gear, fish catch statistics, fishing effort, floating structures 1. INTRODUCTION The Maltese dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus) or lampuki fishery is a traditional fishery, which has been in existence for several decades. It is managed and regulated by the Fisheries Conservation and Control Division which issues lampuki fishery licences only to vessels over 6 metres in length. A fishing site or course is assigned to each vessel after lots are drawn for each district. Each licensee must lay at least 35 Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs-locally known as kannizzati) in a straight line along the course indicated by the Division. Fishing sites are distributed all around the Maltese Islands except for the swordfish corridor which is kept free from lampuki FADs so that swordfish fishing can be undertaken. The sites start from seven miles offshore and FADs are laid at intervals of one half or three quarters of a mile depending on the district. Figure 1 illustrates the distribution of FADs during the 21 fishery. Coryphaena hippurus has recently been included in the list of priority species of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM, 21). In this context, the FAO sub-regional project COPEMED has coordinated and supported a catch and effort, and biological sampling 1 Malta Centre for Fisheries Sciences,Fisheries Conservation and Control Division, Fort San Lucian, Marsaxlokk, Malta; E-mail: matthew.camilleri@gov.mt 199
programme for this species since 2, in which Malta has actively participated. Results presented in this paper have been obtained within the framework of this programme. 2. DESCRIPTION OF GEAR AND FLEET Kannizzati are anchored small rafts made of floating material onto which a few palm fronds are attached. They lure dolphin-fish (Coryphaena hippurus) along with other species such as pilot fish (Naucrates ductor) and amberjack (Seriola dumerili), which tend to aggregate within the shadow which is cast by these floats. Prior to the actual fishing operation, it is common practice to use feather lures or artificial bait to catch a decoy fish that attracts other fish which may be present around the FAD (DeLeiva et al., 1998). When the fish are aggregated in considerable numbers, they are caught by a surrounding net similar to a purse seine. A total of 91 fishing vessels were registered in the 21 dolphin fish fishery, deploying a total of 15,173 FADs, with a mean value of 167 FADs/vessel. The average size of the vessels was 11 metres (sd = 4.3) having marked differences in engine power (mean value = 274.66 kw, sd = 215.41). Although the number of vessels was greater in stratum 1, the vessel size and engine power was much greater in stratum 3, with an extensive area being covered by the high number of FADs which were deployed by each vessel in the latter. Table 1 summarises the vessel characteristics by stratum, whilst the surrounding net characteristics are given in Table 2. 3. CATCH AND EFFORT STATISTICS The fishing season started on August 15 and extended up to January 22. In stratum 1 and 2 no landings were recorded in December (mainly due to bad weather conditions). The total landings were 24 tons that were largely obtained between September and October (7%), and during the month of August (17%). Landings for November accounted for only 9% of the total, whilst those for December and January were very low (3% and 1%, respectively). The main part of the landings was obtained in stratum 3 (63%), followed by stratum 2 (21%) and stratum 1 (13%). The evolution of the landings and the catch per unit effort (CPUE) by stratum and month are shown in Figures 2a, b and c. The CPUE in terms of catch per FAD and catch per vessel were calculated using the total number of FADs deployed and the total number of registered vessels respectively. It is clear that stratum 3 was the most important with respect to landings and CPUE in terms of catch per vessel throughout the season. Stratum 2 was the most important during the month of October when the CPUE in terms of catch per FAD was the highest. REFERENCES DE LEIVA, J.I., C. Busuttil, M. Camilleri, M. Darmanin. 1998. Artisanal fisheries in the Western Mediterranean - Malta Fisheries. Copemed FAO sub-regional project. GFCM. 21.Report of the twenty-sixth session. Lacco Ameno, Ischia, Italy, 1-13 th September 21. FAO, Rome 21. 2
Table 1. Summary of the vessel characteristics by stratum Stratum Number of vessels Total FADs FADs / vessel Vessel size (m) Engine power (kw) 1 45 6749 15 9.88 (sd = 3.42) 23.12 (sd = 178.38) 2 19 2515 132 11.6 (sd = 4.37) 244.8 (sd = 166.25) 3 27 599 219 13.26 (sd = 4.82) 412.26 (sd = 241.5) Table 2. Surrounding net characteristics Gear type Surrounding Net Length (m) 13-15 Height (m) 12 Number of meshes 4 Opening of mesh (mm) 26 (19 in the bag) Number of floats 4-5 Buoyancy SL8 Number of weights 4kg/1m Netting material nylon multi-filament Rtex 9,12,15 (27 in bag) 21
Figure 1. Distribution of FADs during 21 lampuki fishery ( Stratum 1, Stratum 2, Stratum 3) 22
Kg 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Figure 2a. Evolution of landings by stratum Figure 2b. Evolution of catch per vessel Kg 3 25 2 15 1 5 Kg 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 Figure 2c. Evolution of catch per FAD Figure 2. Evolution of catch per FAD. 23