Changes over a decade in fish assemblages exposed to both environmental and fishing constraints in the Sine Saloum estuary (Senegal)

To investigate the changes in the fish assemblage of the Sine Saloum estuary (Senegal) over a 10-year period, it was surveyed during a complete hydrological cycle (three principal hydro-climatic seasons) first in 1992 and then in 2002–2003. The sampling protocol for the two surveys was identical, using the same sampling technique, the same collection periods, and the same sampling stations.The Sine Saloum is an inverse estuary in terms of its salinity gradient. It is affected by the intense drought that has occurred in this biogeographic region for more than 50 years. The estuary is also subjected to high fishing pressure. The second data-collection period followed a few years of higher recorded rainfall (approximately 35% higher than in 1992) and was characterized by increased fishing pressure (over 50% higher than in 1992).For the two study periods, the same set of indicators were calculated, including fishing indicators (catches, density, yields), size-based indicators (size structures, mean length, maximum observed length, size spectra), ecological indicators (richness, species diversity, K-dominance models, ABC curves, ecological categories) and trophic indicators (mean trophic level, trophic composition of catches).Overall, the main changes in the estuary's fish assemblage between 1992 and 2002 were (1) a loss in total biomass (40% less) for an equivalent species richness (approximately 55 species); (2) a decrease in the maximum observed lengths for many species (mean decrease of 17%); and (3) a decrease in the mean trophic level (more than 0.11 units). Analysis by bio-ecological and trophic category showed that the main species concerned were benthophagous species and, to a lesser degree, generalist predator species from marine origin that inhabit the estuary more or less permanently.