author(s)
Béranger Raoul TAMGNO, Péguy Joëlle CHEGUE, François TCHOUMBOUGNANG and Léonard Simon NGAMO TINKEU

abstract
During its storage in the maritime coastal zone in Littoral-Cameroon region, the treated fish is destroyed by various factors. These factors can be the source of poisoning for the populations. The objective of the study was to evaluate the post-smoking losses of fish in 3subdivisions in maritime coastal area: Youpwé (Douala II), Manoka (Douala VI) in Wouri Division and Mouanko in Sanaga Maritime Division. The identification of the fish species smoked was made in these 3subdivisions by permanent monitoring at the level of landing points and smocking units. 429 stakeholders were surveyed and 305 storage facilities were inspected and then characterized. Three in vivo collections of 7 species of smoked fish from each of the localities were collected and put in observation at the laboratory for 6 weeks. From these collections, molds and insect pests emerged. For each collection, the factor of loss is observed, the insects emerged were counted, identified and the damage assessed. For this study, it appears that 31 marine fish species belonging to 17 families have been identified. The Clupeidae (27%), the Sciaenidae (18%), the Polynemidae (12%) and the Ariidae (10.1%) are the most represented families. Ethmalosa fimbriata (Clupgeidae), Cynoglossus senegalensis (Cynoglossidae), Trichiurus lepturus (Trichiuridae), Arius heudeloti (Ariidae) and Raja africana (Rajidae) are the most smoked species. The racks and baskets are the most widespread and used storage tools. Molds and Insects (Coleoptera: Dermestes maculatus, Necrobia rufipes and Diptera (Calliphora sp) are the main biotic factors of loss of stored smoked fish in the three localities. N. rufipes is the major pest with 772 individuals on the 911 counted. The study presents the main loss factor which depreciates the quantity and quality of smoked fish during storage.