Estudo da variação espacial e sazonal da captura artesanal de pequenos pelágicos na região costeira sul de Moçambique

Abstract

Fish is an abundant aquatic animal in Mozambican waters, its catch has increased significantly in recent years, and the increase in fishing exploitation in recent decades has seen a drastic population decline in several species, placing them on the list at risk of extinction. The present study was carried out based on historical data from the artisanal fishing sampling system of the National Institute of Fisheries Research (IIP) and aimed to study the spatial and seasonal variation in fish catches and the influence of environmental variables on fish catches species. The research was based on the use of data sampled monthly in fishing centers in the southern zone of Mozambique in the districts of Maputo, Matola, Inhaca, Maracueni, Bileni, Xai-Xai, Maxixe, Municipality of Inhambane, Tofo, Jangamo, Guvuro, Inhassoro , Bazaruto, Vilankulos, Morrumbeni e Machanga., between January 2017 and December 2020. Two-way ANOVA was used in data analysis to compare spatial and seasonal catch. All analyzes were carried out with the help of the R statistical program, where it was observed that fish catches are more concentrated in the south and north of the study area. The one-way Kuskal-wallis test did not detect significant differences in the region and (P value = 2.258683e-04; p <0.05) respectively and for the ANOVA test the test confirmed that there are significant differences for the season with (P value = 0.0349946; p <0.05). For the spatial distribution of fish for the geographic strata, it was shown that the north of the area under study had higher catches, a fact that may be linked to environmental factors such as water temperature and salinity.