Opportunities and strategies for conservation of fish genetic resources in Cote d'Ivoire

Abstract

Cote d'Ivoire has a diverse ichthyological fauna. About 173 species of fish from 27 families and 67 genera are represented in the different rivers and lacustrine systems. Around 60 species are harvested by artisanal fishing. Less than 10 are used in aquaculture. Strategies need to be developed to preserve these diverse fish populations in both natural and artificial waterbodies. Cote d'Ivoire is watered by four main rivers. These are, from west to east, Cavally (600 km), Sassandra (650 km), Bandama (1050 km) and Comoe (1 100 km). A group of small coastal rivers composed of San Pedro (112 km), Boubo (130 km), Me (140 km), Agnebi (250 km) and Bia (290 km), among others, loca ted in the forest zone, are distributed throughout the southern region. Tributaries of river systems from neighboring countries flow partly on the Ivorian territory, including those of Niger, coming from Mali ( Bagoe, 230 km, and Baoule, 330 km); Black Volta, from Ghana (Koulda and Bineda); and Laleraba of Comoe system, a natural frontier with Burkina Faso. Over 400 dams have been constructed by the government of Cote d'Ivoire or by private investors in the last 30 years. Hydroelectric and hydroagricultural dams cover more than 180 542 km2, and agropastoral dams cover about I 562 km2.