This species occurs along the coasts and in brackish water of coastal lagoons, rivers and lakes of western Africa from Dakhla in Western Sahara to Lobito in Angola.

[4] The practice is controversial in countries like The Gambia, where environmentalists say over-fishing of bonga for fish meal is raising prices for locals.

[5] Refuse from fish meal plants has also been linked to environmental damage.

The fish is placed on sticks, bars or wire mesh trays about 1 m from the floor.

Smoke-drying of fish is essentially a drying process to preserve the product in the absence of refrigeration.