Results of preliminary fishing trials with 15.8m six-seam otter trawl

The paper deals with the results of trawling operations conducted along the Saurashtra Coast of Gujarat State with 15.8 m six-seam otter trawl. Fishing operations carried out from Fishtech No. 8 with this new net were the first of their kind in the country and the results proved to be encouraging. The design in question is passed on to private agencies for commercial operations.

Stock dynamics of horse mackerel, megalaspis cordyla (Linnaeus) along northwest coast of India

The stock dynamics of horse mackerel, Megalaspis cordyla, along the northwest coast of India has been studied using length frequency data recorded from commercial landings and trawl catches of research-cum-training vessel M.F.V. Saraswati. The growth parameters for this species has been estimated to be L∞=54 cm and K=0.49 per annum. The natural and fishing mortality for the stock have been worked out to be 0.93 and 0.91 per annum respectively. The study indicated that the stock is fished at a safer fishing mortality level F sub(0.1), lower than F sub(msy) level.

Social status and problems of fishing community at Allahabad

The paper highlights social status and socio-economic problems of fishermen living along the Ganga and the Yamuna at Allahabad. Since the problems of fishermen varied with respect to category (with owned boat and with hired boat) and location, significance of this variation was tested by x²-test. The paper further emphasises on an intensive study of fishermen community to have in depth analysis of their problems and to suggest remedial measures for their upliftment.

Estimation of fishing mortality and migration coefficient of the fishery of juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii from Kalu River in Maharashtra

The freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii breeds in estuaries and the juveniles after completion of their larval stage start their upward migration towards rivers. It is at this stage fishing of juveniles takes place in river mouths. Kalu River near Titwala, in Maharashtra is estimated based on data presented by Indulkar and Shirgur (1995) for 1991 and 1992 fishing seasons. The fishing mortality was estimated to be 1.50 and 1.28 for a fishing season of 3 months in 1991 and 1992 respectively, while the migration coefficient was computed to be 3.53 during the fishing season. As the average exploitation rate during the study period was only 0.24, the juveniles are not heavily fished and there is a scope for almost doubling the present catch to about 4 million seeds per fishing season.

Drift-net fishing in Ceylon waters

Fishing with drift-nets beyond the continental shelf was more profitable than fishing within the continental shelf. Fishing operations conducted over the year beyond the shelf yielded an average catch approximately 1000 lbs. per operation while fishing within the shelf yielded an average catch of 400 lbs. per operation. The seas off the south-west and south coasts were found to be much richer in pelagic fish than the seas off the east coasts. There was a seasonal abundance of fish off the south-west, south and east coasts of Ceylon. On the south-west and south coast fish were more abundant during the months of the south-west monsoon while on the east coast fish were more abundant during the months of the north-east monsoon. Drift-net fishing proved to be a more lucrative method of capturing fish than trolling, longlining and trawling in the seas off Ceylon, and has contributed to an increase in the gross catch in Ceylon waters.

Sirahu Valai: a passive fishing gear in Ceylon

There are many types of passive fishing gear in use in the estuarine waters and lagoons in Ceylon such as the stake seine net or Kattudel, the tat trap or Jalcottu and the wing net or Sirahu valai. Of these Siraku valai is very popular in the shallow and near shore areas of the sea in north Ceylon. Sirahu valai is popular since it is relatively more economical, less time consuming and more efficient than other forms of fishing gear in shallow waters. More over the fishermen do not have to remain in the fishing grounds while his gear is fishing. Pearson (1923) described this gear as a stake net having a complicated arrangement. Sirahu valai is also referred to as Siraku valai or Kurukku valai.

Ceylon's tuna longline fishing effort and catch distribution in the Indian Ocean, 1967-70

The present report was prepared to evaluate the performance of two fishing vessels, study trends in fishing condition, the status of the stocks exploited and also to contribute basic information required by the Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission for management of the tuna resources.

Penaeus indicus H. Milne Edwards, 1837: a summary of the conclusions from the fishing exploratory surveys between 1979 and 1837 at Sofala Bank, Mozambique

From 1979 to 1983, several surveys were carried out with research and fishing vessels at Sofala Bank in Mozambique. Their main objective was the assessment of shallow water prawn stocks, as this resource is of great economic importance for the country. A summary of the conclusions of these surveys regarding the species Penaeus indicus is presented. During the rainy season the species occurs closer to the shore than during the dry season. Estimates of biomass are very variable. The spawning peak seems to occur at the beginning of the rainy season (September-October). The spawning areas are located very close to the shore in the northern part of Sofala Bank and South of 17 degree 10'S in the 15-25 m depth interval.

An analysis of records of gillnet fishing in Pilkington Bay, Lake Victoria

Among the commercially valuable species occurring in Lake Victoria the two endemic species of Tilapia, T. esculenta (Graham) and T. variabilis (Boulenger) still provide the basis for the fishery in many areas, though in some places the non-cichlid species are more important, for example in the Kagera river area where large numbers of Labeo victorianus and Schilbe mystus migrate seasonally into the river. Although certain species show these habitat preferences. Most of the coastline of Lake Victoria supports a wide variety of species, all of which contribute to the commercial fishery. Over the past ten years the East African Fisheries Research Organisation has fished experimentally a number of stations within a radius of fifty miles from Jinja. These stations have been selected so as to cover a variety of habitats which range from sheltered bays to exposed coastlines. The records discussed in this paper are the result of fishing operations carried out in Pilkington Bay over the period December 1954 to November 1956. This series of fishing operations was carried out in an attempt to assess the composition of the fish populations contained in this area. To this end a variety of nets of differing mesh sizes were used. Pilkington Bay is about ten square miles in extent and is an irregular and deep indentation on the north coast of Buvuma Island. It lies within the sleeping siclmess area where fishing by Africans is prohibited. When selecting an experimental fishing ground, it is important to have some idea of the amount of commercial fishing being carried out in the area. Throughout the period of this experiment a few African fishermen were seen operating illegally in the area, but it is unlikely that their efforts greatly affected the results obtained. Pilkington Bay was fished by E.A.F.R.O. in 1949 and 1950 (Lowe McConnell 1956) but since then till the present experiment, fishing in the area has been infrequent.

The fishing centres of Lake Niassa (Mozambique): results of a frame survey made in June 1983

Results of the first frame survey of the fishing centres on the Mozambican coast of Lake Niassa, held in June 1983, are presented. A total of 41 fishing centres were detected in the area and visited. Through direct enquiries in each centre, an estimated number of 3,380 fishermen and 1,230 fishing boats (of which 25 motorized) was established. The results also provided information on the types and quantities of fishing gear used. A first estimation of the approximate total annual catch in the area gave a figure in the order of 9,100 tons., of which approximately equals 90% is landed during the rainy season. The survey is a part of a research programme on the fishing resources of Lake Niassa and of a project for the collection and organization of fisheries statistics from the artisanal fisheries of the Mozambican side of Lake Niassa.

Análise dos efeitos económicos das opções de gestāo da pescaria de camarāo de águas pouco profundas

The paper deals with the proper management of fishing resources of shrimps in shallow waters, those currently constitute the main source of foreign currency trade of the country. The analysis of the level of the productive sector is presented by the local Institute of Fisheries Research.

Problemas da gestāo dos stocks de camarāo

The worldwide shrimp landings in 1988 were reported to be 2.484.000 tons an increase of about 460.000 tons compared with 1985. The majority of shrimp fishing areas located in the tropical and sub-tropical regions with a contribution of more than 2 million tone. The most important species are the shallow water Penaeid shrimps. This quantity of about 2.5 million tons represents approximately 3% of the world marine catch. In terms of value, it represents almost 30% of the world trade in fish products. Main management objectives include: long term resources conservation; to maximize physical catches; to maximize the total income from catches or foreign exchange; to maximize economic profits; to reduce the shrimp by catch or improve its utilization; other social and economic interests. These objectives are in part interconnected and some are in conflict. Resource conservation is a basic condition for all other management objectives. Management policy definition should be in accordance with national goals and based on available scientific knowledge of the resources and of the fishing industry. The definition and selection of management objectives is an important process, to which the scientists must contribute the best way they can, mainly in providing the necessary information and options for management.

A participatory study of the traditional knowledge of fishing communities in the Gulf of Mannar, India

This is the first in a series of case studies undertaken by the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) to document the traditional knowledge of fishing communities dependent on marine and coastal resources in protected and conserved areas in different parts of the world. The study, done with the support of the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) project, documents the traditional knowledge of fishing communities in the Gulf of Mannar in the state of Tamil Nadu. It focuses on two fishing villages, Chinnapalam and Bharathi Nagar, whose communities have traditionally depended on Krusadai and Appa Islands for their livelihood. Traditional knowledge relating to oceanographic, meteorological, biological, ecological and navigational aspects of fisheries was documented. The study will be useful for researchers, students, scientists, policymakers, fishworker organizations, NGOs and anyone interested in the traditional knowledge of local fishing communities related to marine biodiversity and the customary use of fisheries resources and fishing practices.

Asserting rights, defining responsibilities: perspectives from small-scale fishing communities on coastal and fisheries management in Cambodia

In preparation for the Workshop and Symposium on “Asserting Rights, Defining Responsibilities: Perspectives from Small-scale Fishing Communities on Coastal and Fisheries Management in Asia”, held in Siem Reap Cambodia, from 3 to 8 May 2007, case studies were undertaken in six countries in Asia—Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. Among other things, the studies aimed to document and explore the understanding that fishing communities have about their rights to fisheries and coastal resources, as well as the obligations and responsibilities associated with these rights, and to document and discuss their initiatives to assert these rights and fulfill their responsibilities. The studies formed the basis for discussions at the Workshop and Symposium. This case study from Cambodia will be found useful by NGOs, regional and national organizations of artisanal fishworkers, and anyone interested in fisheries and fishing communities in Cambodia.

Asserting rights, defining responsibilities: perspectives from small-scale fishing communities on coastal and fisheries management in the Philippines

In preparation for the Workshop and Symposium on “Asserting Rights, Defining Responsibilities: Perspectives from Small-scale Fishing Communities on Coastal and Fisheries Management in Asia”, held in Siem Reap Cambodia, from 3 to 8 May 2007, case studies were undertaken in six countries in Asia—Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. Among other things, the studies aimed to document and explore the understanding that fishing communities have about their rights to fisheries and coastal resources, as well as the obligations and responsibilities associated with these rights, and to document and discuss their initiatives to assert these rights and fulfill their responsibilities. The studies formed the basis for discussions at the Workshop and Symposium. This case study from the Philippines will be found useful by NGOs, regional and national organizations of artisanal fishworkers, and anyone interested in fisheries and fishing communities in the Philippines.