Optimization of Mesh Size of Gill Nets for Sardinella gibbosa (Bleeker)

Neethiselvan N.; Vaitheeswaran T.; Jude D.

doi:10.56093/ft.v38i2.18484

Authors

Neethiselvan N. Fisheries College and Research Institute Thoothukkudi
Vaitheeswaran T. Fisheries College and Research Institute Thoothukkudi
Jude D. Fisheries College and Research Institute Thoothukkudi

https://doi.org/10.56093/ft.v38i2.18484

Keywords:

Mesh size, gill nets, Sardinella gibbosa, selectivity

Abstract

Fishing conducted in inshore waters off Thoothukkudi (Tamil Nadu) during 1997-98 using 16 units of nylon gill nets with 26, 28, 30 and 32 mm mesh size made up of 210D/ 1/2 twine revealed that the proportionality co-efficient (k) of the gill net selectivity equation for Sardinella gibbosa was 0.104. Gill net with mesh size 29.6 mm was found to be ideal for the commercial exploitation of S. gibbosa which contributes considerably to the lesser sardine fishery of Thoothukkudi coast. The details of enmeshing pattern of different length groups of S. gibbosa in gill nets of different mesh sizes are presented.