Energy Analysis of Traditional Non-motorised Gill Net Operations, in Vembanad Lake, Kerala, India

Abstract

Fish production and energy requirement in the traditional non-motorised gill net operations, in Vembanadu Lake, Kerala, India are discussed in this paper. Gillnetting is targeted at mullets and other estuarine resources and is operated from traditional two-men canoes of 5.5 m LOA, using paddling as means of propulsion. Fishing operations take place from November to July while during the other months it is suspended due to the presence of large quantities of macro-vegetation, drifting downstream. Mean number of days of operation is 225 days. Mean catch per year per gill-netter was estimated to be 8.4 t of which mullets contributed 25.1 per cent, followed by sciaenids 17.1 per cent, carangids 15.5 per cent, cat fishes 13.6 per cent, prawns 13.3 per cent and miscellaneous fishes 15.2 per cent. GER.t fish 1 was found to be 0.61 GJ making this one of the most energy efficient system. Nearly 98.92 per cent of the GER is contributed by fishing gear and the balance by the fishing canoe. Energy efficiency ratio was 8.01 and energy intensity value was 0.125.