Craft & gear analysis of mechanized trawlers operating from Bhidiya Fishing Harbour, Gujarat

Abstract

A field-based survey was conducted to assess the craft and gear characteristics of mechanized trawlers operating from Bhidiya Fishing Harbour, Gujarat, India. The study was based on nine selected fishing craft, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire, direct onboard observations, and interactions with boat owners and crew members. Information on craft specifications, including boat name and registration number, ownership, type of craft, storage capacity, length overall, gross and net tonnage, crew strength, ice and fuel capacity, and engine details, was systematically documented. In addition, gear specifications such as type of fishing gear, mesh size, materials used for gear fabrication, fishing grounds and locations, fishing seasons, closed seasons, and duration of fishing trips were recorded. Catch composition was noted to identify the major fish species associated with trawler operations, and catch per unit effort (CPUE) was estimated to evaluate fishing efficiency. The results revealed notable variations in craft dimensions, engine power, gear configurations, and operational patterns among the surveyed trawlers, reflecting adaptive strategies to local fishing conditions and resource availability. The observed fish assemblage consisted predominantly of commercially important demersal and pelagic species, indicating the multispecies nature of trawl fisheries in the region. The findings provide valuable baseline information on trawler craft and gear characteristics at Bhidiya Fishing Harbour and may support sustainable fisheries management, gear regulation, and policy formulation for mechanized trawl fisheries along the Gujarat coast.