International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research

Authors
Njomoue Pandong Achile, Nyatchouba Nsangue Bruno Thierry, Ngatcha Ndengne Arno, N’SOUVI Kodjo, Mbangue Nzengwa Ekmon, Micah Adekunle David, Essola Dieudonné, Kontchou Vanlie

Abstract
Ariomma bondi, the silver-rag driftfish is an abundant species distributed in Cameroonian territorial waters. It constitutes an important demersal species because of its considerable and unexploited potential.Some of the demersal fish populations in Cameroonian waters have been heavily exploited and fishing effort may be above optimum levels for many species. In this context, the exploitation of the potential of arioma bondi will increase national fish production which is still in deficit, but to provide sustainable exploitation, resource management is clearly required. Therefore, the evaluation of trawl codends which are going to be used in this fishery and the potential improvements to their selectivity are of prime importance. This study investigated the selectivity parameters and a selective mesh size for bottom trawls used to target arioma bondi in Cameroonian maritime fisheries. The semi-empirical models was used to define selective properties of codend. These properties are determined using the experimental and theoretical methods of assessing the parameters of the selectivity curve, and by plotting the curve. Selection parameters were obtained by fitting a logistic equation using a maximum likelihood method. Codend selectivity was estimated using 24 diamond mesh sizes ranged from 40 to 88 mm. The fish length of the silver-rag driftfish ranged from 140 mm to 310 mm with the average of 225 mm. The results showed that the mesh size of 58 mm was the selective mesh size of the bottom trawl codends used to capture arioma bondi in Cameroonian fisheries, which will ensure sustainable exploitation of this resource.