Socio-economy and fishing biology in the north-western region of lake Tanganyika, Democratic Republic of the Congo

This study aimed to identify fishermen and their fishing gears used, identify fished species and their maturity sizes. Data were collected in six sites of lake Tanganyika inclunding Kalundu, Mulongwe, Kilomoni, Makobola, Kirimba and Kasekezi. The sampling was conducted from April to June 2010. The fish samples were collected from commercial fishing. 1440 fishermen were recorded that 67% were married and more than 33% of fishermen are aged of 20 to 29 years. Fishermen use lift nets of 4 to 5 mm of mesh, gill nets of 8 mm of mesh, beach seine nets of 4 mm of mesh, mosquito nets of 1 mm of mesh and fishing lines of 100 m of length having 90 to 100 hooks. 167 lift nets, 97 gill nets, 44 beach seines, 184 fishing lines and 5 mosquito nets were recorded during the period of investigation. A total of 1208 specimens belonged to 3 commercial species were sexed and weighted. Their length was measured and their maturity size was determined. Stolothrissa tanganicae was highest abundant with 520 individuals followed by Limnothrissa miodon with 464 and Lates stappersii with 224. On 100% individuals caught of these three species; 42.09% were immature. The first maturity size of S. tanganicae , L. miodon and L. stappersii was respectively of 63.09 mm; 77.45mm and 247.92 mm of length. The mean price of 1Kg for L. stappersii varied between 3.6 and 4 US$, while 1Kg for S. tanganicae and L. miodon cost 2.22 US$ and 1.66 US$ respectively.