Spatial distribution of standing stocks of reefal demersal fish of commercial interest and fishing effort in the northern Province of New Caledonia (western Pacific).

Fish from lagoon and reef in New Caledonia are mainly caught by artisanal f isheries and subsistence fishing. The present study aimed at estimating the se fish standing stocks, at finding the main factors influencing the spatia l distribution of these fish, and at estimating the maximum sustainable yie ld with considerations for socio-economic aspects sensu late. A total of 14 06 stations was surveyed in the Northern Province of New Caledonia. Samplin g was stratified according to three zones (north, east and west) and three biotopes (coral reefs, near-reef areas and lagoon bottoms). This work demon strates the existence of important fish stocks of commercial interest in re efal and lagoonal waters of the Northern Province, estimated at about 138 3 00 t. The standing stocks, which may be considered as non-exploited in the north zone, were mainly composed by large individuals belonging to slow-gro wing species ('K' strategy). The current catches of fish are globally very low, approximatively 10-times less than the pressure which would achieve a maximum sustainable yield. The characteristics of the local market for fish in New Caledonia, mainly in the Northern Province,:indicate that fish cons umption directly reflects fishing pressure. Indeed, subsistence fishing (25 .7 kg of fish per inhabitant and per year) represents 92 % of the total fis hing pressure, thus the commercial fishing activities may be considered as a minor component. So, it seems that the demography and local feeding habit s will probably be the most important factors which will determine the futu re variations of artisanal fishing activities and status of standing stocks in the northern Province of New Caledonia. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.