Assessment of penaeid prawn fishery by small mechanized trawlers off Visakhapatnam, east coast of India

Study was conducted to assess penaeid prawn fishery by small mechanized trawlers along Visakhapatnam coast during 2011 to 2015. Penaeid prawn landings, fishing effort, CPH and species composition was collected from small mechanized trawlers. Expected penaeid prawn landings (t) were estimated by Schaefer production model (CEDA) based on fishing effort and penaeid prawn catch. Study discovered that there was considerable rise in fishing effort (h) (33.7%) and penaeid prawn landings (17.35%) during the study period with that of 2006-10. Drop in catch per hour (12.24%) and penaeid prawn proportion (12.39%) was registered. Mean fishing effort (h) per unit was registered as 115h and catch per hour of penaeid prawns ranged from 3.37 to 5.73 kgh-1. All in all, penaeid prawn landings accounted for 3,598 t annually and attributed to 14.8% of the total fish catch.