ANALYSIS OF GILL NET SELECTIVITY ON THE CARANGID FISHERY OF THOOTHUKUDI COAST
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Date
2006
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Fisheries College and Research Institute Tamil Nadu Fisheries University
Abstract
A study on the selectivity of big-meshed gill net with three different mesh sizes (90, 110 and 140 mm) on the fishery of four commercially important species of carangids viz. Caranx ignobilis, C. sexfasciatus C. heberi and Alectis indicus revealed a clearcut selectivity and enmeshing pattern. The peak fishing season of carangids in the big-meshed gill nets of Thoothukudi coast was found to be from June to September. Among the gill nets of three different mesh sizes analysed, the net 'A' with the mesh size 9cm may be discouraged as it captured mainly immature and maturing animals of all the four species of carangids studied. The enmeshing factor derived during this investigation clearly indicated the influence of snagging and wedging on the mean selection length of different species caught in gill nets of different mesh sizes. Capturing of A. indicus by the big-meshed gill nets in Thoothukudi coast may be discouraged since either juveniles or maturing groups of this species are found to form the fishery irrespective of mesh size used. The optimum length capture of C. ignobilis, C. sexfasciatus. C. heberi and A.
indicus was 55.0, 57.5, 62.5 and 45.0cm respectively. The optimum mesh size for the commercial exploitation of C. ignobilis, C. Sexfasciatus, C. heberi and A. indicus was 10.5, 11.8, 12.5 and 10.5cm respectively. When the mesh size was increased, a clearcut shift in the enmeshing pattern from snagging to wedging could be observed. The technical status of the big meshed gill nets of Thoothukudi coast can be further improved by replacing the stone sinkers with lead sinkers of 20 gm each and evenly distributing them in foot rope.
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