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COUNTRY FILES (contd.)

CAMEROON

1. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE (Welcomme, 1979)

Cameroon (with a surface area of 469 440 km2) is divided into four distinct topographical regions:

  1. in the south there is a low coastal plain covered with equatorial rain forests;
  2. in the centre there is a transitional plateau which rises to the north to the Adamaoua Mountains;
  3. to the west there are mountain forests peaking in Mt. Cameroon (4 050 m);
  4. to the north of Adamaoua range, rolling savanna slopes gradually down to the marshlands surrounding Lake Chad.

The climate is as varied as the topography but tends to grade from equatorial-humid in the south to Sahelian-arid in the north. In the south there is a prolonged and heavy rainy season which is at its most intense from June to September. The uplands have less rain and two peaks in April and October.

Cameroon is a primarily agricultural country with hardwood production in the forested areas. Demand for water for irrigation is limited. Several major dams have been installed for flood control, although they also generate electricity. There is a proposal to install a major area of irrigated agriculture on the Yačrčs floodplain down-stream of the proposed Logone River Dam.

2. HYDROGRAPHY (mainly after Balarin, 1985) (see Fig. 1)

Cameroon is characterized by an extremely dry north but very wet, high-altitude western regions. There are numerous perennial rivers in the south with extensive flood-plains.

The total water area amounts to about 2% of the country, nearly 40 000 million m3 and one million hectares, divided as follows (Aubray, 1976):

Type Area (ha) % Total
Floodplains 550 000 55.0
Lakes 300 000 30.0
Rivers 150 000 15.0
(To this area should be added the coastal mangroves.)

Table 1 gives data on the main waterbodies and their fishery potential.

2.1 Lakes

There are a number of natural lakes in Cameroon. The largest is Lake Chad, of which 800 km2 (“Little Chad” phase) to 1 800 km2 (“Normal Chad” phase) are Cameroon territory, or 8–40% of the lake area, depending on the floods (Welcomme, 1979). Other minor lakes (see Table 2), amounting to about 1 500 km2 (Aubray, 1976), are scattered around the western region of the country.

2.2 Rivers, Floodplains and Swamps

Cameroon is drained from the Adamaoua Range along four major drainage basins: Atlantic, Zaire/Congo, Niger and Chad (Fig. 1, Table 1). A watershed exists along the South Cameroon Plateau separating coastal and Congo systems.

Within the plateau and coastal lowlands, the Atlantic drainage system is also divided into three minor basins: West, Sanaga and South. The Sanaga is the largest single river in Cameroon (over 920–975 km), with a 140 000 km2 basin. Flows range from 473 m3/s (March) to 57 000 m3/s (October), with a mean of 2 072 m3/s. The river is characterized by a numer of rapids and reservoirs. The west Atlantic rivers converge and create the vast Cameroon Estuary. In the south are numerous very small rivers, among which is the Nyong, with an extensive marshland.

The Lake Chad Basin is the smallest river system in Cameroon, with the River Logone as the main element which overflows into a number of lakes and the Yačrčs swamp. Part of this system's waters can join the Benouč system via the Mayo/Kebi. Other rivers termed “Moya” imply seasonal flows characterized by rainfall.

Generally, flow patterns of all Cameroon rivers are typified by rainfall. Equatorial conditions in the south create no flood peaks per season (i.e., Lobe and Nyong). Further north, flows are continuous all year round, with only one peak flood (i.e., Sanaga and Wouri). In the extreme north Sahelian conditions typify one peak flood with dry periods for 6–8 months (i.e., Mayo Tsanga). The ratio of flow per basin area (expressed as l/s/km2) is therefore greatest in the south, declining toward the north.

All rivers are interrupted by rapids and waterfalls; they are shallow and obstructed by sand banks, hazards to navigation.

Water quality parameters of various rivers are given in Table 8.

Characterized by hydromorphic soils and typical vegetation, large areas are prone to inundation. The major floodplains (Fig. 1) are the Yačrčs, over 7 000 km2 at peak flood, the upper reaches of the Nyong, and over 1 000 km2 of mangrove swamps, mainly around the Wouri Estuary. Bell and Canterbery (1976), however, estimate that the total extent of mangrove is over 5 184 km2.

2.3 Reservoirs

There are several impoundments in Cameroon:

Two further large dams have been proposed: one on the Benue at Lagolo, and one on the Logone River.

Also listed (Table 2) are details of man-made reservoirs and those hydroelectric schemes proposed for construction. Two of the largest dams, Bamendjing and Mbakaou on the Sanaga River, have a marked seasonal fluctuation and the latter has also been known to dry up completely. Two of the most recent barrages, Maga and Lagdo, have recently been reviewed by De Kimpe (1980a,b; 1983).

2.4 Coastal Lagoons

Although there are extensive coastal mangrove forests/swamps (see section 2.2), there are no significant coastal lagoons.

Fig. 1

Fig. 1. MAIN DRAINAGE BASINS AND HYDROLOGICAL STATIONS
(SOGREAH, 1983a mod. in Balarin, 1985)

Table 1. CAMEROON WATERBODIES AND THEIR FISHERY POTENTIAL
(Balarin, 1985)

BASIN Length
(km)
Width
(m)
Basin area
('000 km2)
Estimated fish production River poten.
(t/yr)
Total poten.
(t/yr)
  Main Rivers
    Tributaries
1. CONGO/ZAIRE       250 kg/km 350   350
  A. Ngoko     40.4      
    Boumba 390   75        
    Dja 700 120        
  B. Kaden     23.8      
    Boume 300   95        
2. COASTAL BASIN (ATLANTIC)       2 173
  2.1 West            
  A. Moungo 120     380 kg/km   46  
  B. Wouri       8.2 540 kg/km   97  
    Nkam            
    Makombe 180          
    Dibombe            
  C. Dimamba           90  
    Ebo            
    Ekem            
  2.2 Sanaga            
  D. Sanaga 920 700 140.0  18 kg/ha 1 200    
    Dierem 935          
    Lom       11.0      
    Mbam 495     41.0      
    Mape            
  2.3 South            
  E. Nyong 520 153   14.0  40 kg/ha 320  
  F. Lokoundje 160 (29.0)   250 kg/km   40  
  G. Kienke   90     220 kg/km   20  
  H. Lobo   95   1.9 210 kg/km   20  
  I. Ntem 360     940 kg/km 340  
3. NIGER         2 125   2 125
  A. Benoue 350     64.0  47 kg/ha    
    Mayo Kebi   80          
    Faro 250          
4. CHAD         30 200     
  A. Logone 280   150.0 100–120 kg/ha 16 500     
  B. Chari            
  C. El Beid (Lake Chad)         1 200   
  D. Les Yačrčs     250–7 000 50 kg/ha 12 500    
Total 7 000     602.3-7 442.3     34 818
(25–45 000)

Modified after: SOGREAH, 1983b; Laclavčre and Loung, 1980; Aubray, 1976

Letters and Numbers before water-body names refer to Fig. 1.

BASIN Potential fishery (t/yr) Total potential fishery (t/yr)
(Existing) waterbodies
CONGO ZAIRE
  Total Rivers    350   350
  Reservoirs    
  Lakes    
COASTAL BASIN (ATLANTIC)   7 973
  Total Rivers 2 173  
  Reservoirs    
  Bamendjing    500  
    Mbakaou 3 500  
  Lakes    
    Ossa/Mevia    800  
    Mbali/Tissongo 1 000  
NIGER   5 065
  Total Rivers 2 125  
  Reservoirs    
    Lagdo 2 900  
    Bini      30  
    Dang      10  
  Lakes    
CHAD   31 700
  Total Rivers 30 200    
  Reservoirs    
    Maga 1 500  
  Lakes    
TOTAL - 4 BASINS   45 088 (35–55 240)        
  Rivers 34 818 (25–45 000)              
  Reservoirs 8 440  
  Lakes 1 800  

BASIN Estimated potential fishery (t/yr)
  Planned Reservoirs
COASTAL BASIN  
  (West)  
  Cross-River 1 000
    Song Loalou ?
  (Sanaga)  
    Mape 4 000
    Njeke 1 000
    Kaleng ?
    Goife ?
  (South)  
    Njock-Poume  
NIGER  
    Collinaires    800
    Adamaoua ?
CHAD  
    Vina 2 000
Total projected 8 800

Table 2. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA AND USES OF LAKES - CAMEROON
(Abstr. SOGREAH, 1983a; Min.Econ.Plan., 1981)
(Balarin, 1985)

Waterbody Region Year built/filled Volume
(million m3)
Area
('000 ha)
Potential fish yield
(kg/ha/yr)
Altitude
(m)
Use
a
Reservoirs              
Bamendjing (W.N. Province) (Noan R.) 1970–74 1 800 15–33.0   20.0 1 150   f,p.
Maga       12–36.0 100–110   i(rice),f.
Lagdo   (1983 est.) 4 500–7 700 22–69.7   55–60 214 p,f,i.
Mbakaou (N. Province)(Djerem R.) 1968 2 600 50–60   870 f,p.
Bini (N. Province) 1962         0.3 100.0   f.
Dang (N. Province) 1963         0.1 100.0   f,w.
Merou (Yaounde) 1952       0.005     w.
Mokolo (Mokolo)           w.
Vina   underway   30–40   60.0   p,f.
Cross-River   underway   15–20   50.0   p,f.
Mape   (est. 1986)   50-0   80.0 724  
Ndjeke   (est. 1988)   20-0   50.0 582  
(90) L'Adamaoua underway       8.0 100.0   p.
Njock Poume (Nyong R.) proposed         p.
Kaleng (Mbam R.) "         p.
Goife (Mbam R.) "         p.
Bangangte (Noan R.) "         p.
Tanbassala (Nkam R.) "         p.
Yabassi (Nkam R.) "         p.
Mentchum (Atouffi R.) "         p.
Kikot   "         p.
Nachtigal (Sanga R.) "         i.
Ewana   "         i.
Mayo Tsanaga (Gazawa plain) "         p.
Song-loulou Kikot rapids "         p.
Goulet   "         p,i.
Edea              
Lakes              
Chad, Ossa and Meria       3.5 224 est.   f.
Barombi Mbo         10–20    
Fianga, Mbali & Tissongo, Lere, Barambiba, Kotto, Benin, Ejagham            

a c = commercial;
f = fishery;
i = irrigation;
p = power;
w = water supply

2.5 Aquaculture

There are 38 state Fish Culture Centres, but a large number of these are in a state of disrepair or abandonment. There are 6 000–7 000 village ponds in Cameroon (Satia, pers.comm.). SOGREAH (1982a) lists only 1 600 ponds as functional in 1982, but Satia (pers.comm.) considers this to be more in the order of 4 000, operated by 3 200 farmers, 1.3 ponds per farmer at a size of 250–300 m2 each. This adds up to a total area of 100–120 ha with an average yield of 1.7 t/ha/yr. Grover et al., (1980), lists over 250–500 ha of ponds. Njock (1979), on the other hand, claims about 6 000 rural ponds, each of 250–400 m2, operated by 4 500 farmers and capable of a mean production of 1 t/ha/yr. A total 150–240 t/yr, and about 2 million seeds, were considered as the total for 1980. Statistics therefore remain confused.

3. FISHERY PRODUCTION/POTENTIAL

3.1 Fish production and per caput supply

Table 3. FISH PRODUCTION AND PER CAPUT SUPPLY - Cameroon, 1970–1987

  Nominal Production
(including exports)
(t) 2
Nominal Consumer Supply
(including exports)
(kg/person)
Year Population
'000
1
Inland capture Aquaculture
3
Marine capture
6
Total Inland capture Aquaculture
3
Marine capture Total
1970 6 745 50 000 - 4 20 800 70 800 7.4 - 3.1 10.5
1971 6 905 50 000 - 24 500 74 500 7.2 - 3.5 10.7
1972 7 068 50 000 - 21 600 71 600 7.1 - 3.0 10.1
1973 7 235 50 000 - 21 600 71 600 6.9 - 3.0   9.9
1974 7 407 50 000 - 21 600 71 600 6.7 - 2.9   9.6
1975 7 582 50 000 - 21 600 71 600 6.6 - 2.8   9.4
1976 7 780 50 000 - 21 600 71 600 6.4 - 2.8   9.2
1977 7 982 50 000 - 20 168 70 168 6.3 - 2.5   8.8
1978 8 190 50 000 - 18 996 68 996 6.1 - 2.3   8.4
1979 8 404 20 000 - 73 214 93 214 2.4 - 8.7 11.1
1980 8 623 20 000 - 73 045 93 045 2.3 - 8.5 10.8
1981 8 860 20 000 - 71 761 91 761 2.3 - 8.1 10.4
1982 9 103 19 813 187 5 75 012 95 012 2.2 0.02 8.2 10.4
1983 9 353 19 744 256 5 69 277 89 277 2.1 0.03 7.4   9.5
1984 9 609 19 718 282 5 67 299 87 299 2.1 0.03 7.0   9.1
1985 9 873 19 870 130 5 65 955 85 955 2.0 0.01 6.7   8.7
1986 10 154   19 876 124 5 63 980 83 980 1.9 0.01 6.3   8.2
1987 10 443   19 863 137 5 62 529 82 529 1.9 0.01 6.0   7.9

1 Source: FAO
2 Source: FAO Fisheries Department FISHDAB
Reliable catch data exist only for industrial fishery. Yields from inland water bodies known to be reduced as a result of Sahelian drought, but data on annual variations in catch are not available.

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: 1 783 t; 1981: 1 434 t; 1982: 1 800 t; 1983: 2 002 t.

3.2 Inland catch range and potential yield

Table 4. INLAND CATCH RANGE AND POTENTIAL YIELD

Water body Period Annual catch range (t) Potential annual yield (t)
Lake Chad late 1960's 5 000 1 8 000 2 to 18 000 1
Benue River late 1960's 3 000 1 450–3 000
Chari and Logone Rivers and Yačrčs Floodplain early 1960's 20 000–30 000 12 500   
Sanaga River - - 1 200
Bamendjing Reservoir - -    500
Bini Reservoir - -      30
Dang Reservoir - -      10
Lagdo Reservoir - - 2 900
Maga Reservoir - - 1 500
Mbakaou Reservoir - - 3 500
No information available for    
Lakes Bambili, Barombi Koto, Barombi Mbo, Benakuma, Dissoni, Fianga, Mboandong, Nyos and Oku;
Rivers Cross and Sangha;
Reservoir Mayo Oulou.
Total Lakes - - 1 800 3
  Total Rivers - - 34 818 3   
  Total Reservoirs - - 8 440 3

(Sources: see text)
1 before the Sahelian drought: “Normal Chad” phase
2 during the Sahelian drought: “Little Chad” phase.
3 Balarin, 1985 (see Table 1)

Total annual yield:
40 000–50 000 t - before the Sahelian drought;
20 000 t - during the Sahelian drought, and present (see Table 3).

Potential annual yield:
45 000–80 000 t in normal (no-drought) climatic situation (Balarin, 1985).

4. STATE OF THE FISHERY (mainly after Welcomme, 1979; Balarin, 1985)

4.1 Yield

Some statistical confusion arises from the situation around Lake Chad and the Yačrčs. These are international waters with free passage of fishermen and their produce. The site of capture of any lot of fish is therefore very difficult to determine and there has undoubtedly been some duplication in recording of catches from this region. The estimated catch from the Yačrčs, equivalent to 43 kg/ha, falls within the range known from other African floodplains (i.e., 40–60 kg/ha of flooded area), but some authorities place it somewhat lower (about 11 500 t, equivalent to 25 kg/ha). The Benue River catch of about 3 000 t appears to be close to the maximum potential. Forest rivers produce a combined catch of about 2 000 t. Some of the small crater lakes support fisheries, but catch data is unavailable.

Inland capture fishery is a non-industrial, artisanal industry which forms one of the main activities of the rural economy throughout Cameroon. Although accurate statistics are not possible, production is believed to have stabilized around 40–50 000 t/yr from 1970 to 1978. However, the recent Sahelian drought dramatically decreased the inland production to an estimated 20 000 t/yr. The actual status of the fishery is not really known. A composite picture for 1982 is proposed in Table 5, together with estimates of potential.

Table 5. TOTAL INLAND FISH PRODUCTION IN 1982
(adapted from Balarin, 1985)

  Artisanal Aquaculture
Area, ha 5.0 million a 1 700.0 (120 ha)
Number of ponds - 4 000 (+ 7 000)
Fishermen/fishfarmers 12–20 000 b 3 200
Total catch, t/yr       20 000 c        200 d;
           187 e;
           23 f
Exports t/yr     12 000 f; -
      15 000 d  
Total locally consumed (5–8 000) 23–200   
Max. potential t/yr 45–80 000     -
Yield potential kg/ha/yr             80 d; -
            40 g  

a Min.Econ.Plan (1981)
b FAO (1979)
c FAO, Fisheries Statistics
d Satia (pers.comm.)
e Vincke (pers.comm.)
f SOGREAH (1982b)
g Welcomme (1979)

Fish farming in Cameroon has a long history but is largely practiced at a subsistence level; few large farms exist and production is low. National production is modest and does not significantly contribute to the national requirement.

SOGREAH (1982b) suggests an aquaculture production of 23 t/yr, while Satia (pers.comm.) is of the opinion that the total is close to 200 t/yr; this is close to the 1982–1987 estimates of Vincke (1989, pers.comm.), with production varying from 124 to 282 t/yr (see Table 6).

Table 6. PRODUCTION FROM AQUACULTURE IN CAMEROON, BY SPECIES (t)

Species 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987
Oreochromis niloticus 97 134 147 91 87 96
Cyprinus carpio 64   86   95 26 31 34
Clarias gariepinus 26   36   40 13   6   7
Total 187  256 282 130  124  137 

Source: Vincke (1989, pers.comm.)

4.2 Factors influencing yield

Several factors affect the yield in Cameroon. Firstly, the forest rivers are mostly blackwater rivers and are generally unproductive. Thus, although there is a very extensive network of large rivers in the south of the country, they do not contribute much to the potential. Secondly, the recent Sahelian drought caused the reduction in area of Lake Chad and failure of the floods over the Yačrčs. This has meant loss of the Yačrčs fishery and, after a temporary increase in catch, a loss in production and potential in Lake Chad.

There is a lack of understanding in the importance of regulation explosives and poisons being used. A shortage of trained personnel to supervise and offer advice, as well as poor supply of equipment and absence of marketing infrastructure for shipment to distant markets, hamper development.

4.3 Future development possibilities

The future of capture fisheries depends very much on the climatic developments of the Sahelian region. Improvements cannot be anticipated during the Little Chad phase but, with the restoration of a period of higher rainfall, stocks may once again build up both in the lake and on the Yačrčs floodplain. Such a rebirth of the fishery may well be endangered by the proposed development of the Yačrčs for irrigated agriculture.

5. KEY BIBLIOGRAPHY

Balarin, 1985

6. WATER BODIES DIRECTORY

(Physico-chemical data of various rivers are given in Table 8.)

Lakes    
Baleng Chad Mboandong
Bambili Debundsha Nyos
Barombi Koto (= Kotto) Dissoni (= Soden) Oku
Barombi Mbo (= Kumba) Ejagam Tibati
Benakuma Fianga Tizono
     
Rivers    
Benue (and floodplain) Logone (and Yačrčs floodplain)
Chari (and Yačrčs floodplain) Sanaga  
Cross Sangha  
     
Reservoirs    
Bamendjing Edea Mayo Oulou
Bini Lagdo Mbakaou
Dang Maga Song-Loulou

LAKE BALENG

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 5° 33'N; 10° 27'E

LAKE BAMBILI

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 5° 56'N; 10° 15'E
Surface area: 0.2 km2
Max. length: 0.5 km
Max. width: 0.5 km

LAKE BAROMBI KOTO (= KOTTO)

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 4° 28'N; 9° 16'E
Altitude: 110 m
Surface area: 3.3 km2
Depth: 6 m (max)
Max. length: 2.0 km
Max. width: 2.0 km
Inflowing rivers: Tung Nsuia, Tung Nsuria
Special features: Crater lake
 
Physical and chemical data:
Surface temperature: 29–32° C
Conductivity: K20 145–162 μ S/cm

LAKE BAROMBI MBO (= KUMBA)

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 4° 38'N; 9° 22'E
Altitude: 300 m
Surface area: 4.53 km2
Depth: 111 m (max)
Max. length: 2.5 km
Max. width: 2.5 km
Annual fluctuation in level: 1 m
Outflowing river: Kumba
Special features: Crater lake
 
Physical and chemical data:
Surface temperature: 29.5 ° C
Conductivity: K20 39 μ S/cm

LAKE BENAKUMA

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 6° 26'N; 9° 57'E
Surface area: 1.8 km2
Max. length: 1.7 km
Max. width: 1.5 km

Fig. 2

Fig. 2. LAKE CHAD
(Welcomme, 1972)

LAKE CHAD
(International water)

Geographical data
Location: 12° 30'–14° 30'N; 13° 00'–15° 30' E
  Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria
Surface area: 2 000–22 000 km2. The dimensions of Lake Chad vary with the rainfall over its basin. The lake seems to exist in two phases: the “Normal Chad” phase, with an area of about 18 000 km2, and the “Little Chad”, with an area of about 2 000 km2. In 1907, the northern parts dried out completely, and although by 1961 the level had risen markedly (and reached an area of 22 000 km2), the lake was once again reduced in area to reach a minimum in 1973. The level has since risen slightly, but the northern part still remained unflooded in 1983. The hydrographic system now formed by Lake Chad and its rivers is the remnant of what was once probably the greatest lake in the world. (See Fig. 2)
 
During the “Normal Chad” phase, the area of open water is distributed as follows:
  (Welcomme, 1972)
Chad 11 000 km2 (50%)
Nigeria   5 500 km2 (25%)
Niger   3 898 km2 (17%)
Cameroon   1 800 km2 (  8%)
 
During the “Little Chad” phase, the area of open water is distributed as follows:
Chad 1 200 km2 (60%)
Cameroon    800 km2 (40%)
 
(*indicates data are for “Normal Chad” phase)
Depth: 9.5 m (max); 3.9 m (mean) 
Volume: *75 km3 
Max. length: *224 km 
Max. width: *144 km 
Shoreline: *1 000 km 
Annual fluctuation in level: *1 m approx.
Catchment area: 2 500 000 km2 
Major inflowing rivers: Chari, Yobe, Komadougou, Ngadd, Yedseram
 
Physical and chemical data: *
Surface temperature: 18.7–32.3° C (Dussart, 1969)
Conductivity: Conductivity increases from 50 μ S/cm (at Chari mouth) to 1 000 μ S/cm (Welcomme, 1972) (see also Table 7)
pH: 7.1–8.3 (Dussart, 1969) (see also Table 7)
Ionic composition: (see Table 7) 
   
Fisheries data
No. of fish species: 83 (Blache et al., 1964)
No. of fishermen: about 10 000 during “Normal Chad” phase: (Nigeria <3 000; Chad, 5 000; Niger, 1 000; Cameroon >1 000; dates unspecified) (Welcomme, 1972)
Total annual catch and effort:
  Catch by country is very obscure because of the free movement of fishermen and produce around the lake. The catch history for 1969–75 has been estimated as follows by Stauch (1977):

Year Total catch
(t)
No. of fishermen
unspecified - 10 000
1950 20 000 -
1951–59 - -
1960 30 000 -
1961–66        35 000 p.a. -
1967 35 000 -
1968 40 000 -
1969 40 000 -
1970 55 000 -
1971 85 000 -
1972 120 000   -
1973 150 000   -
1974 65 000 -
1975 50 000 -

The catch from Cameroon waters prior to the Sahelian drought was circa 5 000 t (Welcomme, 1979).

Potential annual yield:

in entire Lake:  
100–120 kg/ha (Durand, 1980)
  80–100 kg/ha (in “Normal” 20 000 km2 Chad; 160 000–200 000 t/yr)
(Van der Meeren, 1980);
  70 000 t/yr max. sustainable yield, entire lake (Moses, 1982)
in Cameroon:  
  “Normal Chad” phase: 14 400–21 600 t (80–120 kg/ha; 1 800 km2)
  “Little Chad” phase:    6 400–9 600 t (80–120 kg/ha; 800 km2)

Table 7. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF WATERS DURING “NORMAL” CHAD PERIOD IN MAIN LAKE ZONES
(cited in Leveque, 1987)

Values are in meq/l when not otherwise specified.
Values between parentheses () are approximate and deducted from evaporation experiments.

Zones Cond.
10μS/cm
pH Na K Ca Mg Total cations Alc Cl SO4 Total anions PO4
10μg/l
H4SiO4
mM/l
Salinity
mg/l
Archipelago north 687 8.7 2.83 0.86 2.09 1.72 7.30 7.34 (0.40) (0.15) 7.89 1000–3000 1.06 695
North islets/banks 725 8.7 2.82 0.82 2.36 1.98 7.98 7.74 (0.35) (0.14) 8.23 n.d. 1.02 700
Open waters north 407 8.1 1.59 0.47 1.32 1.10 4.48 4.35 (0.23) (0.07) 4.65 100–1200 0.73 415
Archipelago east 237 7.7 0.84 0.24 0.91 0.59 2.58 2.53 (0.11) (0.05) 2.69 500–1200 1.08 280
Great Barrier 190 8.0 0.68 0.21 0.66 0.52 2.07 2.03 (0.09) (0.03) 2.15 n.d. 0.73 216
Archipelago southeast 105 7.4 0.32 0.10 0.44 0.32 1.18 1.15 (0.05) (0.02) 1.22 100–400 0.64 135
Open waters south   83 7.2 0.28 0.09 0.32 0.24 0.93 0.89 (0.04) (0.01) 0.94 n.d. 0.50 109
Southeast islets/banks   87 7.4 0.24 0.08 0.36 0.29 0.96 0.93 (0.04) (0.01) 0.98 n.d. 0.53 110
Southeast open waters   58 7.2 0.16 0.06 0.24 0.18 0.64 0.62 (0.04) <0.01 0.67 10–250 0.41   77
Chari   60 7.3 0.13 0.05 0.20 0.15 0.53 0.52 (0.03) <0.01 0.56 n.d. 0.37   66

LAKE DEBUNDSHA

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon
 
Physical and chemical data
Conductivity: 12 μ S/cm at 20° C

LAKE DISSONI (= SODEN)

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 4° 43'N; 9° 17'E
Altitude: 450 m
Surface area: 1.33 km2
Depth: 81 m (max)
Max. length: 1.25 km
Max. width: 1.25 km
Special features: crater lake
 
Physical and chemical data
Conductivity: K20 27 μ S/cm

LAKE EJAGAM

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 5° 47'N; 9° 59'E

LAKE FIANGA
(International water)

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon, Chad - 9° 54'–10° 06'N; 15° 13'E
Surface area: 28 km2 in Cameroon; 11 km2 in Chad)
Max. length: 23 km
Max. width: 1.5 km
Inflowing river: Mayo Kebi
Outflowing river: Mayo Kebi

LAKE MBOANDONG

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 4° 27'N; 9° 16'E
Altitude: 130 m
Surface area: 0.10 km2
Depth: 5 m (max)
Max. length: 0.35 km
Max. width: 0.35 km
Special features: crater lake
 
Physical and chemical data
Surface temperature: 33° C
Conductivity: K20 66 μ S/cm

LAKE NYOS

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 6° 26'N; 10° 18'E
Surface area: 1.4 km2
Max. length: 2 km
Max. width: 1 km

LAKE OKU

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 6° 12'N; 10° 27'E
Surface area: 2.1 km2
Max. length: 2 km
Max. width: 1.5 km

LAKE TIBATI

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon

LAKE TIZONO

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 7° N; 3° 35'E

BENUE RIVER AND FLOODPLAIN
(International water)

Geographical data (data mainly from Welcomme, 1972)
Source: Adamaoua Mountains, Cameroon
Total length: 1 400 km
Basin area: 64 000 km2
Area of water: in Nigeria: bankfull: 1 290 km2; flooded: 3 100 km2
Countries traversed: Cameroon, Nigeria
Major tributaries: Mayo Kebi (Cameroon); Faro and Gongola (Nigeria)
Volume of discharge at mouth: mean max: 1 920 m3/sec
                                                   mean min: 32 m3/sec
Special features: most of the course of the Benue in Cameroon is flanked laterally by a floodplain dotted with small lakes. The upper course is impounded at Lagdo.

Physical and chemical data (see Table 8)

Fisheries data  
No. of fish species: 113 - Mayo Kebi (Blache et al., 1964);
  128 - Benue (Stauch, 1966)
Total annual catch: 12 570 t in 1966:
  (3 000 t in Cameroon; 9 570 t in Nigeria)
Potential annual yield:  
  2 125 t (1 450–3 000 t) (Sources: see Table 1)

CHARI RIVER AND YAERES FLOODPLAIN
(International water)

Geographical data (data mainly from Welcomme, 1972)
Source: the Chari River is formed from the confluence of several rivers, principally the Salamat, Bahr Aouk and Ouham Rivers.
Total length: 950 km
Drainage area: 600 000 km2 (Ndjamena)
Countries traversed: Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic (Bahr Aouk, Ouham and many other tributaries), Sudan (Wadi Tirwal, Bahr Azoum)
Discharges to: Lake Chad
Volume of discharge at mouth: 1 011–1 181 m3/sec
Flood regime: floods from July to February, maximum in October
Special features: the Chari has extensive floodplains along most of its course. The main areas are centered around the Salamat and Erguig Rivers. The Total area of the Chari/Logone floodplains in Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic is about 6 000 km2.
   
Physical and chemical data
Temperature: 19.4–30.4°C
Conductivity: K24 42–73 μ S/cm
pH: 6.9–7.7

Ionic composition: mg/l
Na   2.92
  K   1.84
  Ca   2.06
  Mg   0.94
  CO3 31.5
  Si(OH)4 22.2

Fisheries data

Total annual catch: the catch from the Chari/Logone system, which originates mainly from the Yačrčs floodplain (4 600 km2) was estimated (in the early 1960's) at 20–30 000 t from Cameroon and 35 000 t from Chad (Blache & Miton, 1962). The status of this fishery changed during the Sahelian drought, when much of the plain was left unflooded.

Potential annual yield: 12 500 t in Yačrčs floodplain (Sources: see Table 1)

CROSS RIVER
(International water)

Geographical data
Source: near Dschang, Cameroon
Altitude: 1 965 m
Total length: 485 km (160 km in Cameroon; 325 km in Nigeria)
Countries traversed: Cameroon, Nigeria
Major tributaries: Aboine, Anyim
Discharges to: Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Guinea) - 4° 50'N; 8° 17'E
Special features: in Nigeria there is a floodplain (800 km2) along the central course with several lakes (Lakes Ebom, Ujum, Bob Eric, Ibini, Egwabe, Elcan, Ekwo).
   
Physical and chemical data
Conductivity: 10–25 μ S/cm
pH: 6.2–7.4
Ionic composition: (see Table 8)
PO4 0.0–0.1 mg/l
   
Fisheries data  
Total annual catch: 3 500–8 000 t in Nigeria (1975)

LOGONE RIVER AND YAERES FLOODPLAIN
(International water)

Geographical data
Source: Cameroon (Mbčrč tributary) - 6° 54'N; 14° 15'E
Total length: 550 km
Drainage area: 73 700 km2 (at Bongor)
Countries traversed: Cameroon, Chad
Discharges to: Chari River at Fort Lamy
Volume of discharge at mouth: 40–3 000 (mean: 1 500) m3/sec
Flood regime: floods in June-January, maximum in September-October
Special features: Yačrčs floodplain (4 600–6 000 km2)
 
Physical and chemical data (see Table 8)
Conductivity: K24 41–82 μ S/cm
   
Fisheries data  
Total annual catch: the catch (in the early 1960's) from the floodplain Chari/Logone system, which originates mainly from the Yačrčs, is estimated at 20 000–30 000 t from Cameroon and 35 000 t from Chad (Blache and Miton, 1962). The status of this fishery changed during the Sahelian drought, when much of the plain was left unflooded.
Potential annual yield: 12 500 t in Yačrčs floodplain (Sources: see Table 1)

SANAGA RIVER

Geographical data
Source: Adamaoua Mountains
Total length: 890 km
Drainage area: 135 000 km2
Countries traversed: Cameroon
Major tributaries: Djerem, Mbom, Noun
Discharges to: Atlantic Ocean
Volume of discharge at mouth: 500–5 700 m3/sec (mean 2 000; max in October)
Special features: the lower course of the Sanaga has a floodplain with several lakes, including Tissongo, Mbali and Ossa. Upstream, the basin is impounded at Edea and Song-Loulou (both on the Sanaga), Bamendjing on the Noun, and Mbakaou on the Djerem.
   
Physical and chemical data (see Table 8)
 
Fisheries data
Potential annual yield: 1 200 t (Sources: see Table 1)

SANGHA RIVER
(International water)

Geographical data
Source: Karre Mountains, western Central African Republic
Total length: 1 000 km (150 km along Cameroon border)
Countries traversed: Cameroon, Congo, Central African Republic
Major tributaries: Likuala, Ekela and Dja Rivers
Discharges to: Zaire/Congo River
Volume of discharge at mouth:   700–4 300 m3/sec

BAMENDJING RESERVOIR

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 5° 50'N: 10° 35'E
Altitude: 1 150 m asl
Dam height: 17 m
Date closed: 1975
Surface area: 250 km2 (mean varies between 150 and 300 km2)
Volume: 1.8 km3
Max. length: 32 km
Max. width: 27 km
Annual fluctuation in level: 5–6 m
Major inflowing river: Noun (tributary of Sanaga)
Outflowing river: Noun
   
Fisheries data  
Potential annual yield: 500 t (Sources: see Table 1)

BINI RESERVOIR

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon
Date closed: 1962
Surface area: 3.0 km2
 
Fisheries data
Potential annual yield: 30 t (Sources: see Table 1)

DANG RESERVOIR

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon
Date closed: 1963
Surface area: 1.0 km2
 
Fisheries data
Potential annual yield: 10 t (Sources: see Table 1)

EDEA RESERVOIR

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon
Volume: 0.1 km3
Outflowing river: Sanaga

LAGDO RESERVOIR

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 8° 54'N; 13° 54'E
Dam height: 40 m
Date closed: 1982
Surface area: 700 km2 (at USL); 220 km2 (min)
Depth: 11.0 m (mean at USL)
Volume: 7.7 km3
Annual fluctuation in level: 10 m
Major inflowing river: Benue
Outflowing river: Benue
 
Fisheries data
No. of fishermen: 1 500 in 1983; 2 625 in 1984
No. of boats: 1 050 in 1984
Potential annual yield: 2 900 t (Sources: see Table 1)

MAGA RESERVOIR

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 10° 21'N; 15° 15'E
Dam height: 10 m
Date closed: 1979
Surface area: 360 km2
Major inflowing river: diversion canal from Logone
Outflowing river: irrigation feed to rice fields
 
Fisheries data
No. of fishermen: 3 000 in 1984
Potential annual yield: 1 500 t (Sources: see Table 1)

MAYO OULOU RESERVOIR

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon
Surface area: 80 km2 at USL

MBAKAOU RESERVOIR

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon - 6° 23'N; 12° 49'E
Altitude: 870 m asl
Dam height: 19 m
Date closed: 1968
Surface area: 500 km2 (mean), but can dry completely at low water
Volume: 2.6 km3
Max. length: 50 km
Max. width: 16 km
Annual fluctuation in level: up to 28 m
Major inflowing rivers: Djerem, Beli
Outflowing river: Djerem (tributary of Sanaga)
Catchment area: 20 390 km2
Maximum discharge: 2 090 m3/sec (September-October)
 
Fisheries data
Potential annual yield: 3 500 t (Sources: see Table 1)

SONG-LOULOU RESERVOIR

Geographical data
Location: Cameroon
Volume: 10 × 106 m3
Outflowing river: Sanaga

Table 8. ANALYSES OF RIVER WATERS - CAMEROON
(SOGREAH, 1983a)

River pH Cond.
μS/cm
Ca
mg/l
Mg
mg/l
K
mg/l
Na
mg/l
Cl
mg/l
SO4
mg/l
HCO3
mg/l
SiO2
mg/l
Fe
mg/l
TDS*
mg/l
(Site)
Choumi 7.7 48 3.6 1.8 1.1 2.5 1.4 0.5 28.6 16.2 0.38 56.0
Metchie 7.6 43 3.6 2.0 1.1 2.7 1.0 0.9 31.1 14.4 0.35 57.1
Mezam                        
  (Bengwi) 7.2 22 1.6 0.6 1.5 1.8 1.4 0.9 13.4 13.5 0.42 35.1
Nkam 7.5 27 2.4 1.1 1.1 1.8 0.3 1.0 18.9 16.4 0.81 43.8
  (Melong) 7.5 45 2.6 1.2 1.4 2.8 0.3 0.3 24.4 16.8 0.35 50.1
Mbam                        
  (Mantoum) 7.5 48 3.4 1.7 1.4 2.5 2.8 0.5 25.6 15.0 3.8    56.7
Dibamba 7.3 41 2.0 1.1 1.9 2.0 0.3 - 20.1 10 ? - 28.4
Ndongo (Tiko) 8.2 195   14.7   8.4 2.9 9.5 1.9 0.4 87.5 37.4 0.10 162.8  
Mungo                        
  (pont Tiko) 7.7 110   5.2 2.4 3.1 5.3 1.0 0.9 46.9 23.1 0.08 87.9
  (Mundame) 7.6 71 4.0 2.3 1.9 3.0 3.2 0.9 32.9 19.8 0.12 68.1
Mumaya                        
  (Akwen) 7.3 76 2.1 1.3 1.7 9.0 12.2   0.4 17.9 13.8 0.20 58.6
Cross                        
  (Mamfe) 7.2 32 1.7 0.7 1.5 2.2 0.6 0.4 16.5 14.6 0.13 38.3
  (Mainyu) 7.2 33 1.7 1.5 1.5 2.2 1.1 0.4 17.7 13.0 0.13 39.2
Metchum                        
  (Gouri) 7.5 38 2.6 1.0 1.4 2.5 2.8 0.9 22.7 17.7 0.31 51.8
Mbam (Goura) 7.4 48 4.0 1.7 2.2 3.7 0.7 0.8 24.9 16.4 0.79 51.9
Sanaga                        
  (Nachtigal) 7.1 30 3.1 1.0 1.6 1.8 0.7 0.8 16.3 14.4 0.78 39.0
Nyong                        
  (Mbalmayo) 6.3 20 1.8 0.8 0.9 1.0 0.4 1.2   5.1   7.0 0.9   19.1
Logone                        
  (Bongor) 7.7 50 5.6 2.1 1.8 3.5 - 0.0 45.7 ? ?  
Benoue (Lagdo) 7.5 122   9.0 2.0 3.0 3.9 3.0 - 55.0 20.0 -  
Mape (Magba) 7.5 44 3.2 1.2 1.5 2.3 1.4 0.5 24.4 14.6 0.43 49.5
Noum                        
  (Bafoussam) 7.8 88 5.6 3.2 2.3 4.1 1.4 1.0 46.3 18.7 0.30 82.9
  (Baboungo) 7.6 47 3.0 1.7 1.4 2.5 0.7 1.0 26.2 16.3 0.51 53.3
Nkoup                        
  (Foumban) 8.2 253   17.4   10.7   3.1 12.9   1.8 1.0 92.1 25.6 0.28 164.8  
Monkie                        
  (Bamessing) 7.5 43 2.6 1.1 1.9 2.7 2.5 0.5 24.4 17.9 0.93 54.5
Ngam                        
  (Bangante) 8.2 37 2.4 1.3 0.8 1.8 1.4 0.5 18.3 12.0 0.61 39.1
Meteu (Baleng) 8.1 111   9.6 5.2 2.3 5.9 2.4 0.0 73.2 21.6 0.24 120.4  
Nat (Bandjoun) 7.3 32 3.0 1.0 1.9 1.6 2.8 1.0 17.7 11.2 0.40 40.6
Chris (Mbo) 7.9 51 3.2 2.9 0.4 2.7 1.4 1.5 36.6 21.6 0.12 71.8
Choumi                        
  (Bamendou) 7.5 30 3.0 1.7 0.8 1.6 4.6 1.0 21.3 13.2 0.63 47.8
Massa 7.6 36 3.2 1.6 1.1 2.0 1.0 1.0 25.0 12.8 0.48 48.1
Mifi (bridge) 7.7 57 3.6 2.2 1.1 3.4 1.7 0.5 31.1 13.5 0.22 57.3

* Total dissolved solids

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Aubray, 1976
Balarin, 1985
Bell & Canterbery, 1976
Blache et al., 1964
Blache & Miton, 1962
De Kimpe, 1980a,b; 1983
Durand, 1980
Dussart, 1969
FAO, 1979
Grover, Street & Starr, 1980
Laclavere & Loung, 1980
Leveque, 1987b
Min. Econ. Plan, 1981
Moses, 1982
Njock, 1979
SOGREAH, 1982a,b,c; 1983a,b,c
Stauch, 1966; 1977
Van der Meeren, 1980
Welcomme, 1972; 1979


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