Virtual population analysis and stock assessment of some commercial fish species in the coastal waters of Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)

Abstract

The study was conducted from May 2022 to April 2023 with the purpose to estimate through a Virtual Population Analysis (VPA) the Maximum Sustainable yield (MSY) and the recruitment status for three commercial fish species. Samples of Sardinella, Brachydeuterus auritus and Engraulis encrasicolus were collected measured for total length (TL) and examined using FISAT II software. The study showed for Brachydeuterus auritus a highest value of natural mortality on length ranges from 4 cm to 5cm and a length at first recruitment at 8cm. For Engraulis encrasicolus, the highest value of natural mortality on length class was ranged from 4 to 10 cm with a length at first recruitment at 4cm lower than the length at first recruitment in Sardinella aurita estimated at 8cm. Biomass for Engraulis encrasicolus was very low. The yield into B. auritus, E. encrasicolus and S. aurita stocks was estimated as 6620.287, 4352.581 and 3137.84 tons respectively. The Maximum Sustainable yield (MSY) was calculated as 16519.35, 24925.12 and 5736 tons for the species respectively.