Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Tuna drift gillnet fishery at Chennai, Tamil Nadu- an update

 

Volume 61 Issue 2

M. Sivadas, E. M. Abdussamad, Margaret Muthurathinam, S. Mohan, P. Vasu and P. LaxmiLatha

10.6024/jmbai.2019.61.2.2066-06

Abstract

The present study describes the status of multiday drift gillnet fishery for tuna from Chennai fishing harbour based on data for the years 2016 – 2017. The data is also compared with that during 19992006. Both the craft and gear increased in size with consequent extension of fishing grounds and increase in the number of days/ fishing trip. The size of the boats increased to 20-23 m OAL from 11-12 m OAL and weight of the gear from 1 to more than 6 t. Annual average catch increased to 8523 t during 2016-2017 from 595 t during 1999-2006. Average catch per unit effort was 8310 kg as against 730 kg during 1999-2006. Yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares and Skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis were the dominant species. The stock position of skipjack tuna and yellowfin tuna vis-àvis the three indicators indicated that the percentage of mature yellowfin tuna in the catch in 2017 was 68%, fish in optimum length 35% and mega-spawners 33% whereas in skipjack tuna the respective percentages were 99.5, 21.1 and 79.1. Problems and prospects of multiday tuna drift gillnet fishery are also discussed.

 

Keywords

Tuna drift gill net, fishery, stock position, skipjack and yellowfin tuna.

Date : 30-03-2020