Appraisal of Trawl Fishery of Kerala

Abstract

Trawl fishery of Kerala contributes about 35-50% of the annual landings of the state. The ever increasing international demand for shrimps and cuttlefishes further induced acute competition, higher investment and continuous up gradation of trawlers. The technical specifications, capital investment, catch composition and revenue for single and multiday units has drastic differences. The present study aims to highlight the trawl landings of Kerala state and comparative efficiency of these units operating at Cochin Fisheries Harbour. The data was systematically collected during 2005-2006 in a pre-designed schedule covering all seasons. The secondary data was obtained from various publications of State Fisheries Department and CMFRI. The craft and gear specifications of these units indicate the increasing trend of capital intensity in an already overcapitalized sector. The study indicates that the shift towards multi-day units will further increase due to better catch and returns. Although the multi-day trawlers are economically efficient, the wastes and discards generated from these units are not advisable for the long-term sustainable development of our open access marine fisheries. Regulations in terms of number of units, unit operations or quota system for trawlers appear to be imminent for the efficient management of marine fishery resources of the state.