Dynamiques transfrontalières dans la pêche à petite échelle : le rôle des pêcheurs migrants ghanéens dans la pêcherie de petits pélagiques en Côte d’Ivoire

The aim of this article is to present the issues related to the production and valorization of small pelagics in Côte d’Ivoire, highlighting the crucial role of Ghanaian actors in artisanal fishing. To this end, we have compiled and analyzed data from the Directorate of Aquaculture and Fisheries (DAP) and the Abidjan Oceanological Research Centre (CRO), focusing on the production, fishing units, and the number of fishermen as well as key actors in the value chain of small pelagics. Field activities were conducted to establish the operating account of different fishing segments, in order to calculate the added value and to map the distribution of artisanal production of small pelagics in Côte d’Ivoire. The results show that, from 2014 to 2018, over 95 % of the artisanal production of small pelagics in Côte d’Ivoire was ensured by Ghanaian fishermen, accounting for about 26,200 tonnes out of an average annual production of 27,500 tonnes. More than two-thirds of this production is processed artisanally, especially by smoking, mainly by Ghanaian women. The added value generated by artisanal fishing is estimated at 5 billion CFA Francs (XOF) in Côte d’Ivoire. Ghanaian fishing actors have thus developed, over the years, an effective vertical management of the artisanal exploitation of small pelagics in Côte d’Ivoire, significantly contributing to the national fisheries economy and the food security of the Ivorian population. However, this production remains insufficient to meet national needs, leading to an increase in imports of frozen pelagics, particularly from Mauritania, Senegal, and China. These imports are increasingly being questioned, due to the emergence of new markets in the African supplier countries of Côte d’Ivoire.