Studies on the Spatial-temporal Distribution of Bottom Trawling Fishing Grounds in Mauritania

CHEN Cheng; CHEN Xinjun; LEI Lin; WANG Jintao; LIU Dapeng; XU Lianqi; HUANG Jiangzhong

Abstract：Mauritania is one of the main fishing countries in West Africa.Mastering the spatial-temporal distribution of fishing grounds for Mauritania bottom trawling fishery and its law are important parts of fishery production.In this study,based on production statistics of bottom trawlers from Shanghai Fisheries Company in Mauritania Sea from 2010 to 2015,the spatial-temporal distribution of fishing grounds for bottom trawling fishery was studied with the method of frequency analysis and fisheries center of gravity.The studies suggested that the distribution of bottom trawling fishery located at the waters of 16.90°～17.70°W and 19.70°N～20.80°N in Mauritania,mainly concentrated at the 17.40°～17.60°W and 20.20°～20.70°N.The monthly catch ranged from 27 to 77 kg per fishing net,the average catch attained 43.98 kg per fishing net.The studies suggested that the fishing center of gravity presents the regularity of distribution,basically distributed within a latitude and longitude.The fishing center of gravity mainly distributed in the waters of 17.38°～17.59°W and 20.49°～20.49°N from January to April,in the waters of 17.21°～17.33°W and 20.26°～20.26°N from July to August,in the waters of 17.43°～17.54°W and 20.40°～20.64°N from September to November,and in the waters near 17.08°W and 20.00°N t in December.Mastering the rule of spatial-temporal distribution of fishing grounds will benefit the reasonable fishing in Mauritania marine fisheries.