Guinean EEZ - Key Species
Cassava croaker (Pseudotolithus senegalensis)
The cassava croacker is a demersal fish, with depth range from 0 - 70 m, and is distributed from Morocco to Namibia. It is found in coastal waters over muddy, sandy or rocky bottoms. Smaller individuals are found in shallow waters, but rarely enter estuaries. The species feeds on fish, shrimps and crabs. The species is the most economically important demersal fish in West African waters and is caught with bottom trawls, set nets, and on line gear.
Guinean barracuda (Sphyraena afra)
This pelagic species occurs in the Eastern Atlantic from Mauritania to Namibia and is highly vulnerable. It commonly enters lagoons and estuaries and is found on the continental shelf. The species feeds on fish and shrimps. It is considered to be good eating and has a high recreational value.
Bobo croaker (Pseudotolithus elongatus)
This species occurs only along the West African coast, from Senegal to Angola (possibly extending further north). It has a preference for coastal waters over muddy sediments from the shoreline to about 50 m depth. Bobo croaker also enter estuaries and coastal lagoons and moves farther offshore (to about 100 m) for spawning during the rainy season (from December to February). The species is considered as an important food fish and is caught in bottom trawls, gillnets, beach seines and using lines. In 1999, the countries with the largest catches were Guinea and Cameroon.
Royal threadfin (Pentanemus quinquarius)
The royal threadfin is a highly commercial fish species. It occurs in the Eastern Atlantic waters from Senegal to Angola over sandy and muddy bottoms in shallow waters, frequently in brackish habitats. It feeds on fish and shrimps.
Madeiran sardinella (Sardinella maderensis)
The Madeiran sardinella is a pelagic species of high commercial importance. It occurs in Eastern Atlantic from Gibraltar to Angola and there is a single recorded specimen from Walvis Bay, Namibia. The species is also known from the Mediterranean (southern and eastern parts, also penetrating Suez Canal). Madeiran sardinella feed on a variety of small planktonic invertebrates, also fish larvae and phytoplankton. This species if of considerable importance in West African coasts, but combined with Sardinella aurita in most statistics, partly because the two are often caught together.
Lesser African threadfin (Galeoides decadactylus)
This commercially important fish occurs in Eastern Atlantic waters from Morocco to Angola, including the Canary Islands, over sandy and muddy bottoms in shallow waters, frequently in brackish habitats. It feeds on benthic invertebrates. It is sold fresh, dried salted or smoked.
Smoothmouth sea catfish (Arius heudelotii)
The species is of commercial interest and found in Eastern Atlantic: Cape Blanc, Mauritania to Gabon and possibly also Angola, along the shallow continental shelf. It has been reported from the lower Niger basin, the Benoué River, and Gambia and enters brackish waters. Smoothmouth sea catfish feeds on benthic invertebrates buried in the mud but it can sometimes leave the bottom to capture prey in open water.
Rough-head sea catfish (Arius latiscutatus)
This species occurs in Eastern Atlantic from Senegal to Angola, with one record from Fernando Poo. It has also been reported from Gambia and the lower Niger basin. It is considered highly vulnerable. The species is very common during winter mainly marine but frequently found in brackish estuaries, sometimes entering freshwater. It feeds on fish, benthic invertebrates, zooplankton and detritus. Considered as ornamental and sometimes aquaria fish, the fish is venomous and can be dangerous to humans.
Sompat grunt (Pomadasys jubelini)
This demersal species is of minor commercial importance. It is found in Eastern Atlantic from Mauritania to southern Angola, and is moderately to highly vulnerable. The species inhabit sandy and muddy bottoms of coastal waters and estuaries, and is sometimes found in freshwater. Sompat grunt feeds on fish and benthic crustaceans as well as on mollusks and worms.
Bluespotted seabream (Pagrus caeruleostictus)
This species of commercial interest is found in Eastern Atlantic: Portugal and Straits of Gibraltar to Angola, including the Mediterranean. It inhabits hard bottoms (rocks and rubble), the older individuals found in the deeper part of the range, the younger fish in inshore areas. The species feeds mainly on bivalves and also on crustaceans and fish. It is considered moderately vulnerable.
Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
The common dolphin is a largely oceanic species that is widely distributed in tropical to warm temperate waters of the world. Absolute georgraphical limits are about 60°N in the North Atlantic, 50°N in the North Pacific, and 50°S in the Southern Hemisphere. Common dolphins are taken in many fisheries worldwide.
Several species of dolphins have been reported along the coast of northwest Africa through observation campaigns of cetaceans conducted under the direction of Japanese cooperation. During the third campaign conducted off West-Africa, 390 individuals of Common dolphin have been reported.
Atlantic spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis)
This species is found only in the Atlantic Ocean, from southern Brazil to New England in the west, and to the coast of Africa in the east (the exact limits off West Africa are not well known). Their tropical to warm temperate distribution is mostly over the offshore continental shelf, but Atlantic spotted dolphins also inhabit some deep oceanic waters.
Small to moderate groups, generally of less than 50 individuals, are characteristic of the Atlantic spotted dolphin. Coastal groups usually consist of 5 to 15 animals.
Atlantic spotted dolphins are taken in a direct fishery for small cetaceans in the Caribbean. Direct takes may also occur off the Azores and off West Africa. Some are probably also taken incidentally in tuna purse seines off the West African coast.
During the third campaign conducted off West-Africa under the direction of Japanese cooperation 125 spotted Atlantic dolphin have been reported.