New resources are limited over the continental shelf except off Gabon where the bottom type is such as to make 60 percent of the fishing grounds, or 23 000 km, untrawlable. The annual catch potential for these sparid grounds might be over 10 000 t. But, as has been emphasized, to begin such operations presupposes other fishing methods, not trawling. Similar hard bottoms, though smaller in area, are found in different areas of the coast. The stocks inhabiting these areas, inasmuch as they differ from those over soft bottoms, are relatively less fished. They offer considerable possibilities for expansion to the artisanal fleet, which is more flexible and better adapted with regard to the gear it can implement.
Surveys over the continental slope have shown interesting reserves of red crab (Geryon) off Congo and Ivory Coast (Cayré et al., 1979). This would be the time to make feasability studies, using simulated commercial fishing surveys. These could be carried out by the national fishery services. The presence of squid (Illex illecebrosus) over the continental slope in what would seem to be commercially interesting quantities is known, but the estimates of commercial yields have yet to be made. The specific technology and expertise required for the exploitation of this kind of resource would have to be used. Economic feasability studies for small species of the line type, using both traps and lines, should be studied for an eventual combining of crab, squid and benthic sharks (Centrophorus sp.) fishing.
The presence of prawns from 500-800 m is also known. But, given the fact that foreign flag vessels specialized in prawn fishing operate from Morocco to Senegal and from Congo to Namibia, it is thought that population densities are insufficient to justify anything other than industrial fishing.
