Lobster fishery by a modified bottomset gill net at Kayalpattanam

Abstract

Lobster fishery is a traditional avocation throughout the year in Kayalpattanam, south of Tuticorin in Gulf of Mannar. Lobsters ae fished by bottom set gill nets with 85 mm mesh size. A shift from “monofilament nylon” to “plastic valai” by increasing the msh size from 85 to 130 mm yielded better and larger sized lobsters during Jan-April 2004. The length of a net was 160 m instead the usual 90 m. The fishers went up to a distance of 25-30 km and operated the nets at a depth of 60m instead of the usual fishing ground of 4 to 6m depth in 3-4 km distance. The manpower per unit was also enhanced from 4 or 5 to 6 or 7 and the number of boats operated per day also went up to 50 to 60 from 10 units.