Present status of oil sardine fishery at Karwar

Abstract

The average annual yield of traditional gears (Rarnpan and Yendi) from 1937 through 1982 for 16 years is 146.4 t. Consequent to introduction of purse seiners from 1976, tfe average catch for the 10 year period from 1976 through 1985 for oil sardine increased to 22^3 t at Karwar showing nearly 15.5 times more yield than the former period. This paper discusses whether this new development is a boon to the fishery or whether it has an adverse impact on the fishing stocks. For this purpose, the average standing crop and average annual stock of oil sardine in the fishing grounds for a year were estimated. An estimate on yield-per-recruit and the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for varying fishing intensities and Instantaneous natural mortalities was made to understand the extent of fishing stress on the resource A closer scrutiny of all India catch data of oil sardine and mackerel from 1976 to 1980 when 35 to 400 numbers of purse seiners were introduced respectively, showed that the premechanisation period (1970-75) accounted for better annual average catch than the purse seine era (1976-1980) as the catch per day per purse seine declined. The optimum level of exploitation and the adverse effects on the stocks if they are indiscriminately exploited without proper planning are discussed in the paper.