@article{fdi:010061437,
  title = {{C}hanges in population structure of the white grouper {E}pinephelus aeneus as a result of long-term overexploitation in {S}enegalese waters},
  author = {{N}diaye, {W}. and {T}hiaw, {M}. and {D}iouf, {K}. and {N}diaye, {P}. and {T}hiaw, {O}. {T}. and {P}anfili, {J}acques},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n {S}enegal, a significant decrease in catches indicates that many demersal fish stocks are being overexploited. {T}he white grouper {E}pinephelus aeneus, locally known as the 'thiof', is exploited by both small-scale and industrial fisheries. {A} 28-year database of {E}. aeneus catches along the {S}enegalese coast provided by the {C}entre for {O}ceanographic {R}esearch of {D}akar-{T}hiaroye, and size at maturity measured in {D}akar ({S}enegal) from monthly samples in 2010, were used to analyse changes in population structure in the area over the past 37 years. {C}atches from the northern fishing areas were lower than those from the southern fishing areas, and decreased steadily during the period ({K}olmogorov-{S}mirnov test, {D} = 0.243, p = 0.0002). {T}he individual mean weight of catches decreased from 1974 to 2010 (linear regression, r(2) = 0.40, n = 37) and only 60% of the individuals were mature. {T}he calculated sizes at maturity were 49 cm total length ({TL}) for females and 55 cm for males, and the optimal length of capture for a sustainable fishery was 96 cm, but only 0.03% of {E}. aeneus caught reached this length. {M}ost of the catch consisted of juveniles; the larger reproductive individuals had disappeared. {T}he number of individuals caught decreased significantly between 1974 and 2010 (1974-1983, r(2) = 0.98, n = 74 674; 1984-1993, r(2) = 0.95, n = 96 696; 1994-2003, r(2) = 0.93, n = 12 619; 2004-2010, r(2) = 0.91, n = 12 887), whereas the length range remained the same (10-110 cm {TL}). {B}iological indicators clearly showed that {E}. aeneus stocks in {S}enegal are overexploited and the species is now endangered. {I}mmediate active management of fishing pressure is needed, therefore, to maintain {E}. aeneus populations in the area. {O}ur results suggest a minimum size of <50 cm should be introduced and that fishing effort should be reduced.},
  keywords = {biological indicators ; fishing pressure ; length at maturity ; size ; spectrum ; {W}est {A}frica ; {SENEGAL} ; {OCEAN} {ATLANTIQUE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}frican {J}ournal of {M}arine {S}cience},
  volume = {35},
  numero = {4},
  pages = {465--472},
  ISSN = {1814-232{X}},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.2989/1814232x.2013.847495},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010061437},
}