Contribution of fuel cost to the operational expenditure of mechanised trawlers of Kerala

Abstract

Trawls are one of the most wide spread fishing gears in the world. Indian scenario is also not different as trawling dominates the fishing sector in terms of number of vessels and contribution to marine fish ladings. Kerala is the state where trawling was introduced for the first time in India. Taking its advantage or not, the trawling industry of the state is very much advanced. In the light of increasing fuel price, a study was conducted to assess the fuel expenditure in the trawling sector of Kerala. An extensive survey was carried out during 2015-17, to collect data on operational expenditure of trawlers coming under the size classes small, medium, large and very large. The data was collected from the register maintained by the trawler owners from seven harbours, viz., Shakthikulangara, Neendakara, Cochin, Munambam, Beypore, Puthiyapa and Chombal. The annual operational cost of trawlers ranged between Rs. 2.51 million and 13.45 million depending on the size of the vessels and endurance. The results state that out of the total operational expenditure of trawlers, fuel contributed 56 per cent followed by expenditure for batta and food, repair and maintenance cost, wages, auction charge, cost of ice and miscellaneous costs. The contribution of fuel expense to the operational expenditure of large and very large trawlers is relatively less compared to medium and small trawlers because of the higher contribution of wages, batta, food and cost of ice. On comparing single day and multiday operations, the contribution of fuel cost to the operational cost was higher in multiday trawlers than in single day trawlers.