Importance des requins dans les captures de la pêche artisanale aux filets maillants dérivants de Côte d’Ivoire

The importance of sharks in the catches of the artisanal driftnets witch operate near Abidjan was determined from 2010 to 2011. From Tuesday to Saturday, the weight and size of each species of Sharks were determined. The number of canoes landed and those effectively surveyed are also noted. These data were used to determine the production, size frequencies and abundance indices. The CPUE of Prionace glauca was significantly higher throughout the study period. In contrast, the CPUEs of Carcharhinus brevipinna, Alopias vulpinus and Sphyrna lewini were relatively lower with a gradual drop the last two years. This trend was also observed about the mean weight with Prionace glauca being the most species captured (27.96 to 78.72 tons). This is followed by Isurus oxyrinchus (25.57 to 40.01 tons), S. zygaena (30.26 to 37.27 tons), C. falciformis (2.83 to 44.48 tons) and Alopias vulpinus (0.61-26.84). The lowest values were recorded for S. lewini (0.41 to 9.21 tons) and C. brevipinna (0.14 to 1.76 tons). The most exploited size ranged between 80 cm and 225 cm.