Diversification des techniques de pêche artisanales en corse. Pêche de la crevette Pandalide plesionika edwards II. Technique - prospection - étude biologique - commercialisation

INTRODUCTION : « The fishing industry is still flourishing » but in Corsica as elsewhere, it has already been declining; sea floors are getting depleted. Several vessels have laid up. Where are we in 1989? Corsica fishing is strongly seasonal. The bulk of the activity takes place from spring time to early fall and focuses on bottom fish and sea crayfish. Three types of fishing can be identified: - Trawl fishing on the eastern coast plateau, (16 trawlers). - Trammel fishing to catch rock fish and sea crayfish on the western coast of the island (300 low power and tonnage ships, i.e. 50 KW and 4TJB). - Pond fishing (a few small units). Total catching amounts to roughly 1 000 tons. The fishing fleet is very dispersed along 1 080 km of coast and sometimes faces serious infrastructural difficulties (loading docks, fuel station, ice delivery...). Nevertheless, the fact remains that fishing tools specificity is the main concern all small west coast fisheries are facing (trammel nets) as well as targeted species (se a crayfish). In spite of the population's strong resilience, yield variations are noted (natural fluctuations, local over exploitation, weather issues...). Vessels profitability and fishermen's income are in jeopardy. In order to fill the gap, fishermen increase their fishing effort which may decrease the resource even more as a result. Consequently, it seems important to lighten the sea crayfish effort, to focus on other species and find adequate catching technique(s) for those species. Several topics have been approached during meetings with the professionals, especially the subject of potential fishing techniques diversity. Occasional catching of small crustaceans at medium depth, such as shrimps (Aristeus antennatus, Parapeneus longirostris), or Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus...) in trammel nets (ill-adapted) has been reported on several occasions by the professionals. Creel usage is an ancient tradition in Corsica; this technique was widely used long ago to catch Norway Lobsters and its re-introduction to catch other species should not be a major problem.