Operational parameters and mapping of fisheries resources of gillnets in Bhayander estuary, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Fishermen use both bottom set gillnet and drift gillnet in Bhayander estuary, Maharashtra to catch high valued lobsters and demersal fishes respectively. Gillnet fishing in this estuary is seasonal and consists of five months from January to May mostly targeting high valued and large size fishes. Fortnightly sampling has been done to record the catch per unit effort (CPUE) and a thematic map for the monthly abundance of the fisheries resource mapped. Low availability of resources forced the drift gillnetters to go near or beyond 10-meter depth contour for fishing. The map showed that the monthly variation of the catch is very high, due to the uncertainty in catch and pollution as well.