Drift gillnet fishery of Goa

Abstract

The average annual marine fish production of Goa has been of the order of 87,330 t during 1989-'91 forming about 4% of the all-India marine fish landings. Trawl, purse seine and drift gillnet fishing are the important means of production, contributing to 62.5, 31.1 and 6.4 per cent respectively of the total marine fish landings of the state. Although the indigeneous gears such as rampani, yendi and other smaller shore seines became less popular after the introduction of purse seine in Goa in early seventies, the drift gillnet Magjaaft continued to be in operation for catching bigger pelagics because of their greater economic returns. The mechanisation of traditional craft with out- board engine in recent years has given further fillip to this fishery and its emergence as a significant contributor to the marine fish production of the state.