Éditeur(s) : EDP Sciences
Résumé : From April 2003 to April 2004 monthly sea surveys were conducted around 2 fish aggregating devices (FADs) moored at 2000 and 2500 m depth in Martinique (Lesser Antilles). The use of a dual frequency splitbeam echosounder combined with an underwater camera and fishing methods allowed assessment of average space and time distribution of pelagic fish aggregated beneath the FADs, as well as identification of their overall size and species composition. At daytime, 4 fish aggregations were identified at each FAD, representing 4 distinct types: i) an aggregation of small juvenile tuna (mean fork length, FL: 30 cm) observed very close to the surface in 25% of daytime periods; ii) a small surface aggregation dominated by carangids, Caranx crysos, present in 65% of daytime periods; iii) a large sub-surface aggregation observed during all daytime periods: this aggregation appeared to be primarily comprised of 58 cm FL blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus), mixed with yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) tunas of the same size; and iv) sub-surface scattered large predators (mainly blue marlin, Makaira nigricans) present in 10% of daytime periods. A smaller sub-surface aggregation comprised of medium tuna mixed with "extranatants" (fishes which remain within 10 to 50 m of a FAD) was observed in 75% of night-time periods, whereas unidentified scattered fishes were detected from 70 to 400 m depth. The low daytime vulnerability of medium sub-surface tunas to applied line techniques leads us to assume that their feeding motivation was low during daytime. These tunas could preferentially feed on mesopelagic organisms during night-time and transition periods around Martinican moored FADs. Local fishermen mainly targeted the large scattered predators using very small tunas as living bait. The sub-surface tuna aggregation hence appeared to be currently unexploited by local fisheries, though it represented the large majority of the pelagic biomass around the moored FADs.
Des campagnes scientifiques mensuelles ont été menées autour de 2 dispositifs de concentration de poissons ancrés à 2000-2500 m de profondeur, en Martinique d'avril 2003 à avril 2004. L'utilisation combinée d'un échosondeur monofaisceau multifréquence, d'une caméra vidéo sous-marine et de techniques de pêche conventionnelles a permis de déterminer la distribution spatio-temporelle moyenne des poissons agrégés autour des DCP ancrés ainsi que la composition générale des agrégations. Les techniques de vidéo sous-marine ont joué un rôle majeur dans l'identification des espèces et l'observation de leur comportement. De jour; quatre types d'agrégations ont été définis : i) une agrégation de thonidés juvéniles (longueur à la fourche, LF, moyenne : 30 cm) observée très près de la surface durant 25 % des périodes diurnes échantillonnées ii) une petite agrégation composée essentiellement de Caranx crysos présente en surface lors de 65 % des phases diurnes iii) une grande agrégation de thons observée en sub-surface lors de toutes les phases diurnes; cette agrégation était constituée essentiellement de thons noirs (Thunnus atlanticus) de 58 cm LF, associés de façon saisonnière à des albacores (Thunnus albacares) et des listaos (Katsuwonus pelamis) de taille similaire iv) des grands prédateurs assez dispersés (essentiellement le marlin bleu, Makaira nigricans), observés lors de 10 % des phases diurnes. Une agrégation de sub-surface, aux dimensions plus réduites et composée de thons et "d'extranatants" (poissons restant à distance de 10 à 50 m du DCP) a été observée lors de 75 % des périodes nocturnes; ainsi que des organismes non-identifiés dispersés entre 70 et 400 m de profondeur. La faible vulnérabilité diurne des thons de sub-surface aux techniques de ligne utilisées indique qu'ils ne se nourrissent pas activement durant la journée. Ces poissons pourraient se nourrir préférentiellement d'organismes mésopélagiques durant les phases de transition et nocturnes autour des DCP ancrés. La pêcherie artisanale martiniquaise n'exploite qu'une faible part des ressources agrégées autour des DCP ancrés. Les principales espèces-cibles sont les grands prédateurs capturés de jour en utilisant des thonidés juvéniles comme appât vivant. L'agrégation de thons de sub-surface représente la grande majorité de la biomasse autour des DCP mais elle est quasiment inexploitée par les pêcheries locales.
Aquatic Living Resources (0990-7440) (EDP Sciences), 2007-10 , Vol. 20 , N. 4 , P. 357-366

Droits : EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD 2007
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2007/publication-3634.pdf
DOI:10.1051/alr:2008004
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/3634/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : Sea cruises were conducted for 57 days over 16 months to characterise pelagic fish aggregations around 2 moored fish aggregating devices (FADs) in Martinique (Lesser Antilles). Echosounder surveys run in a star pattern were used in conjunction with obliquely beamed sonar observations. An echo-integration-by-shoal algorithm was implemented to isolate pelagic fish shoals from sound scattering layers and to compute mean morphometric, positional and density parameters. Tree regressions were used to select and classify pelagic fish Target Strengths (TS), with reference to their spatial and temporal characteristics. The main type of pelagic fish aggregation was a large sub-surface aggregation. It was observed during all daytime periods within a radius of 400 m of the FAD. A smaller type of aggregation was observed closer to the surface and to the FAD in 65% of daytime periods. Large scattered fish were observed in 16% of daytime periods. At night, a medium-sized aggregation was detected in the sub-surface in 75% of night-time periods. The sizes of the fish inside the aggregations (determined from TS values) were lower in the small near-surface aggregation than in the large sub-surface aggregation. Mean packing densities of sub-surface medium fish and near-surface small fish aggregations (determined from TS and shoal acoustic density) were respectively 0.2 fish per m3 and 1.3 fish per m3. The acoustic methodology and results are discussed with reference to the characteristics and performance of the echosounder and to the spatial structure of pelagic fish aggregations around moored FADs in Martinique.
Fisheries Research (0165-7836) (Elsevier), 2006-06 , Vol. 82 , N. 1-3 , P. 162-175

Droits : Elsevier 2006
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2006/publication-1734.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.fishres.2006.06.025
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/1734/