Performance Assessment of Tuna Longline Fishing in Lakshadweep Sea, India

Abstract

Experimental tuna longline operations were carried
out in the Lakshadweep Sea on board modified
Pablo boats which are originally used for pole and
line fishing for skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis).
Catch composition, size frequency and CPUE of the
tuna longline operations were analyzed. Sharks,
tuna, sailfishes and miscellaneous fishes were the
catch. Shark contributed 67.6% of the overall catch
followed by tuna (18.7%). Hooking rate of tuna was
4.6 1000-1 hooks compared to (16, 3.4 and 2.2 for
sharks, sailfishes and miscellaneous fishes, respectively).
Silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformes) alone
contributed 89.9% to the total shark catch. Overall
hooking rate was better during evening compared
to morning. There was no significant difference in
the overall catch rate between pre-monsoon and
post-monsoon operations.