Status Analysis of the Otter Trawl Fishery in Fujian Sea Area

Based on the data of the trawl fishery resource monitoring from 1998 to 2003 in Fujian sea area,the otter trawl fishing survey from 1995 to 1997 in Minnan-Taiwan Bank Fishing Group and the trawl fishing survey from 2000 to 2001 in Fujian sea area,the article discussed and analyzed the status of otter trawl fishery in Fujian Sea area.The results indicated that although the total number of fishing vessels was decreasing,the total tonnages per vessel was increasing and the fishing time was longer,resulting in increasing of the annual catch and the catch per unit effort.The economic benefit is low as the catch composition changed markedly,which mostly consisted of unvalued small fish,short lifecycle cephalopod and crustacean.On the other hand,the otter trawl fishery resource is easy to be excess fishing for the catch consisting of short lifecycle cephalopod and crustacean fluctuated annually.At present,the levels of fishing effort are not commensurate with sustainable use of fishery resources.To prevent or eliminate excess fishing capacity,a double control measure,controlling mesh size and some management approaches are put forwarded in this paper.