Comparative assessment of the impact of motorisation on the artisanal fisheries at Vizhinajam

Abstract

The fishery statistics collected from Vizhinjam fish landing centre for seven years from 1986 to 1992 was utilised as the data for the motorisation period. The fishery data during the pre-motorisation period is taken from Luther et cd. (1982) for presenting the comparative assessment of the impact of motorisation. An Increase in the total fish catch as well as in the catch per unit effort is evident during themotorisation period. The fast accessibility to the distant fishing grounds by the motorlsed crafts, the increased number of fishing hands employed in the motorlsed units and the avEiilability of more time for actual fishing due to the time saved for rowing seem to be the major reasons for the higher catch and catch rate in the motorlsed units.