The oyster farming in the coastal ecosystem of southern Benin (West Africa): Environment, growth and contribution to sustainable coastal fisheries management

×

Error message

User warning: The following theme is missing from the file system: journalijdr. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1138 of /home2/journalijdr/public_html/includes/bootstrap.inc).

International Journal of Development Research

The oyster farming in the coastal ecosystem of southern Benin (West Africa): Environment, growth and contribution to sustainable coastal fisheries management

Abstract: 

The oyster farming is widespread at the Benin (West Africa) coastal zone and provides sustainable revenues for grass-roots. This study assessed environmental conditions, farming systems, growth, yields and revenues of the cultivated shellfish, Crassostrea gasar. Results indicated that rearing milieu meets ecological conditions for successful oyster cultivation. Production stages were seed collection and stocking, oyster spreading, growth control, harvesting and processing. Mean stocking density of C. gasar recorded in the rearing milieu was 500 oysters per square meter. Dominant preys consumed by C. gasar at the rearing site were phytoplankton with volumetric proportions reaching 73%. Final mean total length reached 72.6 ± 5.78 mm (mean weight = 63.16 ± 18.16 g) corresponding to a mean monthly growth of 3.31 mm- total length (4.57 g - total weight). Total length – total weight relationships of C. gasar were significant (p< 0.05) with a positive slope indicating that the weight increase with size. Growth variations across the three seasons (dry, wet, flood) were significantly different (F2, 10 = 7.156, p = 0.02). Also, seasonal mortalities were significantly different (F2, 10 = 4.579, p = 0.047) and higher values were recorded during the flooding season. Oyster farming at the Benin coastal waters generated an annual yield of 30 kg/m2 with estimated mean yearly revenues of 160,000 FCFA (US$330) per individual. Habitat disturbances such as the destruction of mangroves, input of anthropogenic contaminants, nutrient enrichment and the hydroelectric dam built on the Mono River were among the major stressors that could affect the traditional oyster farming. As an alternative source of revenues, the great establishment of the oyster farming in the Benin coastal waters may greatly contribute to coastal fish conservation and sustainable fisheries management. The development of the oyster farming in Benin requires further scientific knowledge in order to increase productivity and to contribute to restore fish community structure.

Download PDF: