Performance Evaluation of Multi-seam Trawl in Inshore Waters of Visakhapatnam, North East-coast of India

Abstract

Bottom Trawling is a very popular fishing method
along the east coast of India. Ever since the shrimp
catch has considerably reduced, trawl fishermen
have started targeting fish by modifying the trawl
design. Majority of the fish trawls used in the fishing
industry of Visakhapatnam are two seam trawls. It
is a fact that increasing the number of seams increase
the area of filtration of the gear. Fishing experiments
were undertaken to study the performance of multi
seam trawl compared with a two seam trawl gear
in terms of the CPUE and catch composition. The
experimental trawl net showed a CPUE rate of 40
kgh-1 against 23 kgh-1 from 2 seam trawl. The
composition of catch is also compared in the paper.