COUNTRY FILES (contd.)

GUINEA

1. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

Guinea (with a surface area of 245 860 km²) is divided into four main regions:

1. a narrow coastal belt;
2. the Fouta Djallon Mountains, which are, on average, 1 000 m high;
3. the Upper Guinean Plains, with an altitude of 300 m; and
4. a densely forested southeastern region.

The coastal region and most of the inland areas have a tropical climate with high humidity and temperature. There are two rainy seasons. In the north the climate is sudanic with a single rainy season and greater daily and seasonal temperature variations.

Peasant agriculture, pastoralism and forestry are about equally practiced in the country. Rice culture is practiced in the floodplain areas of the north.

2. HYDROGRAPHY

2.1 Lakes

There are no natural lakes of appreciable size in Guinea.

2.2 Rivers, Floodplains and Swamps

Many of West Africa's great rivers rise in the Fouta Djallon Mountains. The Upper Niger has a length of 580 km within Guinea, and together with its major tributaries probably totals over 3 400 km of waterways. Other important rivers are the Gambia (210 km), the Bafing headwater of the Senegal (130 km), the Konkoure, the Kolente and many others. Aubray (pers.comm.) estimates the total length of main rivers in the country to be about 6 500 km. In addition, there are several floodplains associated with the rivers (especially the Niger) which cover about 2 000 km² during the rains.

2.3 Reservoirs

There are five reservoirs with a combined area of 31.40 km². Three are hydroelectric dams (Kale, Bareya and Donkea) which have been stocked with tilapia. The Konkoure River basin has 2 small impoundments. A third larger dam (Soapit) is projected for the Konkoure which will form a 500 km² reservoir.

2.4 Coastal Lagoons

Although Guinea has numerous estuaries and extensive mangrove forests, there are no major coastal lagoons.

2.5 Aquaculture

Vincke (1989, pers.comm.) gives the following data for 1985:

Breeding centres: 2 (surface area: 1.1 ha);
Family type ponds: (unknown).

3. FISHERY PRODUCTION/POTENTIAL

3.1 Fish production and per caput supply

Table 1. FISH PRODUCTION AND PER CAPUT SUPPLY - Guinea, 1970–1987

¹ Source: FAO
² Source: FAO Fisheries Department FISHDAB
³ included in “Inland capture” if not specified
⁴ - = data not available
⁵ Vincke, 1989, pers.comm.
⁶ From 1980 to 1983, marine exports were nil

3.2 Inland catch range and potential yield

The only data available are for the Niger River and Floodplain, showing an annual catch range of 500–1 000 t.

No data are available for:
Rivers Cavally, Tomine, Gambia, Kolente, Konkoure, Loffa, Moa, Kaba, Saint John, Saint Paul, Senegal;
Reservoirs Baneya, Kale, Kinkon, and Tinkisso.

Total annual yield: 1 000–2 000 t
Potential annual yield: 5 000 t (Welcomme, 1979)

Fig. 1. MAP OF GUINEA

4. STATE OF THE FISHERY

4.1 Yield

Intensive fishing activities take place on the Niger, and it is estimated that the catch varies between 500 and 1 000 t, depending on the year. Other waters in Guinea are only lightly fished, and the actual total national catch may be between 1 000 and 2 000 t/yr.

Aquaculture production, by species, from 1982 to 1987 is reported by Vincke (1989, pers.comm.) as follows:

4.2 Factors influencing yield

The main constraint on increasing the catches of the inland fisheries in Guinea is the lack of infrastructure for marketing and distributing the produce. Competing uses of the floodplains for rice culture may limit the productivity of these regions.

4.3 Future development possibilities

The extent of inland waters in the country would suggest that the potential is about 5 000 t (Welcomme, 1979). The actual yield of 1 000–2 000 t therefore indicates that the potential is only partly exploited. The inland fish catch in Guinea will undoubtedly rise over the next decade. The country is highly suitable for aquaculture, and the introduction and popularization of rearing fish in ponds would make a valuable contribution to the economy. In addition, the projected large dam on the Konkoure will almost certainly add to the potential.

5. KEY BIBLIOGRAPHY (none)

6. WATER BODIES DIRECTORY

CAVALLY RIVER
(International water)

CORUBAL/TOMINE RIVER
(International water)

GAMBIA RIVER
(International water)

GRANDE SCARCIES/KOLENTE RIVER
(International water)

KONKOURE RIVER

LOFFA RIVER
(International water)

MOA RIVER
(International water)

NIGER RIVER AND FLOODPLAIN
(International water)

Fig. 2. RIVERS AND LAKES OF THE NIGER-BENUE SYSTEM
(Welcomme, 1972)

PETITE SCARCIES/KABA RIVER
(International water)

SAINT JOHN RIVER
(International water)

SAINT PAUL RIVER
(International water)

SENEGAL RIVER
(International water)

Fisheries data
No. of fish species: 54 in Baoule and Bakoye Rivers

BANEYA RESERVOIR

KALE RESERVOIR

KINKON RESERVOIR

TINKISSO RESERVOIR

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Welcomme, 1979

GUINEA-BISSAU

1. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

Guinea-Bissau has a surface area of 36 125 km². There are extensive coastal swamps (10% of the total area is periodically tide-covered). Inland relief is low.

The climate is hot and humid with a rainy season (May to November) and a cooler dry season (December to April).

The economy is based primarily on agriculture. There is a large hydroelectric potential which has not yet been developed.

2. HYDROGRAPHY

2.1 Lakes

There is one minor lake, Lake Cufada.

2.2. Rivers, Floodplains and Swamps

There are three main river systems, the largest being the Corubal. The Cacheu has a lower floodplain.

2.3 Reservoirs: None

2.4 Coastal Lagoons: None

2.5 Aquaculture

There is no aquaculture (Vincke, 1989, pers.comm.).

3. FISHERY PRODUCTION/POTENTIAL

3.1 Fish production and per caput supply

(See Table 1)

3.2 Inland catch range and potential yield

The only information available is for Lake Cufada (1982), giving an annual catch of 5 t in 1982.

4. STATE OF THE FISHERY

4.1 Yield

No statistical catch data is collected in Guinea-Bissau. The total national inland catch has been estimated at about 600 t for 1975.

4.2 Factors influencing yield: Unknown

Table 1. FISH PRODUCTION AND PER CAPUT SUPPLY - Guinea-Bissau, 1970–1987

¹ Source: FAO
² Source: FAO Fisheries Department FISHDAB
³ From 1980 to 1983, marine exports were as follows: 1980: 815 t; 1981: 2 265 t; 1982: 1 162 t; 1983: 510 t.

4.3 Future development possibilities

Provisionally it would appear that the inland fishery resources of Guinea-Bissau are extremely limited and already are close to full exploitation. Significant increases in production may be possible only through the establishment of intensive aquaculture.

5. KEY BIBLIOGRAPHY

6. WATER BODIES DIRECTORY

Fig. 1. MAP OF GUINEA-BISSAU

LAKE CUFADA

CACHEU RIVER

CORUBAL/TOMINE RIVER
(International water)

GEBA/KAYANGA RIVER
(International water)

LIBERIA

1. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE (Welcomme, 1979)

Liberia has a surface area of 111 370 km². Apart from a narrow coastal strip, Liberia consists of a series of plateaus of moderately high altitude within a few higher hills of up to 1 500 m. The country is densely forested.

The climate is hot and humid, with one major extended rainy season between April and November. There is very little variation in temperature, which averages about 30° C.

Liberia exports iron, rubber and timber. Apart from these commodities the country is wholly devoted to small-scale agriculture.

2. HYDROGRAPHY (see Fig. 1, Table 1)
(Welcomme, 1979; Balarin, 1984b)

2.1 Lakes

There are no important natural lakes in Liberia.

2.2 Rivers, Floodplains and Swamps

Six main rivers flow across the country from the Fouta Djallon Mountains of Guinea. These are the rivers Loffa, Saint Paul, Saint John and Cestos (which have their lower courses entirely within the country); the Mano River (which forms the frontier with Sierra Leone); and the Cavalla (Cavally) River (which forms the frontier with Côte d'Ivoire). In addition there are several smaller streams such as the Grand Cess River, the Sino River and the Farmington River. Total river length is about 3 000 km (Aubray, 1978).

The coastal plains tend to be very flat, often only at 1–2 m altitude. They are thus susceptible to flooding during the rains, in particular where a sandbar blocks the river mouth. Most rivers exhibit floodplains along their course, but the extent of these is not known.

2.3 Reservoirs

A hydroelectric plant (HEP) near Monrovia on the Saint Paul River, a proposed HEP dam on the Mona River, a HEP scheme at Yondahun, Loffa River and the Fangunda Dam in Lofa country represent the total inland reservoirs. The Mona Dam is anticipated to be over 391.5 km² in area and 8.03 × 10⁶ m³ in volume.

2.4 Coastal Lagoons

Coastal lagoons are of two types:

Marine Lagoons occur where a sandbar forms on a river coastline, sealing off a bay (cut-off lagoon), or where tidal flow erodes an area of low ground (cut-in lagoon).

Freshwater Lagoons occur where a river outlet is blocked by a beach sandbar, creating a reservoir. This is a common feature of a large number of the coastal rivers, especially those with a slow flow. It is also a characteristic feature of the strong offshore currents. Lake Piso in the North (170 km²) and the swamps around Monrovia are examples of this. Aubray (1978) considers that 500–800 km² of inland waters exist in Liberia.

2.5 Aquaculture

In the 1970's there were an estimated 55 ponds. By 1985 this had increased as follows: (Vincke, 1989, pers.comm.)

Breeding centres: 1 (surface area: 1.8 ha);
Family-type ponds: 200 (surface area: 9 ha).

3. FISHERY PRODUCTION/POTENTIAL

3.1 Fish production and per caput supply

Table 1. FISH PRODUCTION AND PER CAPUT SUPPLY - Liberia, 1970–1987

¹ Source: FAO
² Source: FAO Fisheries Department FISHDAB
³ included in “Inland capture” if not specified
⁴ - = data not available
⁵ Vincke, 1989, pers. comm.
⁶ From 1980 to 1983, marine exports were as follows: 1980: 944 t; 1981: 32 t; 1982: 17 t; 1983: 298 t.

3.2 Inland catch range and potential yield

No individual data are available for: Rivers Cavally, Cestos, Loffa, Moa, Saint John and Saint Paul, and the Piso Lagoon.

Table 1. MAJOR RIVER BASINS IN LIBERIA
(Strupezewski & Meijers, 1982; Hasselmann, 1979)

Fig. 1. RIVER COURSE AND DRAINAGE BASINS OF THE MAJOR RIVER SYSTEMS
(Balarin, 1984b)

4. STATE OF THE FISHERY

4.1 Yield

The rivers (over 3 000 km) and lagoons, lakes and swamps (500–800 km²) are fished but no reliable data of catch are available. Welcomme (1979) estimated 4 000 t/yr, but Aubray (1978) was more conservative and suggests 1 000–2 000 t/yr (cited in Balarin, 1984).

The main aquaculture activities are restricted to subsistence ponds with a potential for rice-cum-fish culture. Actual development amounts to just over 200 rural ponds in 1985, with a production not exceeding 8 t for the same year. Aquaculture production, by species, 1982–1987, is reported as follows (Vincke, 1989, pers.comm.):

4.2 Factors influencing yield (unknown)

4.3 Future development possibilities

Surveys are needed to determine the real status of inland fisheries and to decide management policies. Then some further development will undoubtedly be possible, particularly in reservoir fisheries and aquaculture.

5. KEY BIBLIOGRAPHY

Balarin, 1984b

6. WATER BODIES DIRECTORY

CAVALLY RIVER
(International water)

CESTOS RIVER
(International water)

LOFFA RIVER
(International water)

MOA RIVER
(International water)

SAINT JOHN RIVER
(International water)

SAINT PAUL RIVER
(International water)

FANGUNDA RESERVOIR

COOPERS LAGOON

PISO LAGOON

SHEPERD LAGOON

SHERMAN LAGOON

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Aubray, 1978
Balarin, 1984b
Hasselman, 1979
Strupezewski & Meijers, 1982
Welcomme, 1979