Guinean EEZ - Exploitation

In Guinea, the two main types of fishery fleets are: the industrial trawlers and the small scale fleet including both traditional fishing canoe and / or modern ones (motorized). The latter (small-scale fishery) has developed all along the coast and its catches are sometimes more important than those of the industrial fishery (CNSHB, 2003).
Industrial fishing is practiced by foreign vessels operating under license whereas locals are strongly involved in the artisanal fishery. The artisanal fishery developed after 1984 (end of the First Republic of Guinea), and was promoted by various development projects which have facilitated the development of infrastructure and have provided equipment and canoes (Chavance, 1999). The increasing use of engines has led to the expansion of the fishing area in water depths of 20 or 40 meters (Chavance, 1999). The fleet is now mostly specialized for the export of fish products.

There has been a steady and significant increase in the number of trawlers since 1975, from 7 trawlers in 1975 to more than 200 units in 2001, including collectors boats (Guenette and Diallo, 2004). Industrial catches also increased steadily between 1971 and 1980, the year during which they reach 123,000 tons. However, daily yields have dropped from 7-10 t / day in 1971 to 3 t / day 1983-1987 (Anonymous-CRHB, 1989). During these years, the Soviets were the major industrial fishers in Guinea waters and had access to the coastal area. In 2004, catches (including tuna) of this industrial sector amounted to 41.965 tons.