There are 5,266 motorized crafts in operation in Andhra Pradesh contributing about 16% to the landings in the state. In this paper, an attempt is made to understand fuel utilization pattern and estimate the total quantity of fuel consumed by the motorized fishing craft operating in Andhra Pradesh. The study was carried out in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh during the year 2004-05. The quantity of fuel utilized per trip was taken as the fuel utilized for reaching the fishing ground and returning and also the fuel spent for fishing. A total of 200 trips were covered for the study. The number of trips performed by motorized craft during the period of study was worked out at 1,28,616 for Visakhapatnam district and for the state as a whole, it was 12,40,459. The consumption by motorized craft was 1,820.54 kL and 17,558.59 kL per year for Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh, respectively. The average fuel utilization by the craft was 14.15 litres per day. In addition to the estimates on fuel utilization, the general specifications of the craft and their operational aspects are also presented. The
expenditure on fuel in the fishing sector is substantial and calls for optimum fuel utilization measures like the use of engine with appropriate horsepower, proper maintenance of engines, introduction of new generation fuel efficient fishing craft along with appropriate management measures like optimization of fishing fleet.

Fuel utilization, motorized craft, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh