A Profile of Mechanised Fishing Activities based at Cochin Fisheries Harbour, Kerala, India

Cochin Fisheries Harbour situated at Thoppumpady (Kerala, India), was commissioned in September 1978 and function under the administrative control of Cochin Port Trust. A profile of mechanised fishing activities, based at Cochin Fisheries Harbour is presented in this paper, based on investigations conducted during 1997-98. During the period of investigations, 1543 mechanised fishing vessels were registered with the Port, of which 931 (60.3%) were in active operation. Three types of vessels were operating from this harbour. These included 72.4% trawlers, 22.6% gillnetter-cum-liners and 5.0% purse seiners. Trawlers operating from the harbour ranged from 9.1 to 16.0 m LOA (89-122 hp), gillnetter-cum-liners 7.1-14.0 m LOA (<60-99 hp) and purse sieners (12.1-19.0 m LOA (106-235 hp). Mean catch per year of the trawlers and gillnetter-cum-liners were 52.8 t and 32.83 t, respectively. Mean catch per year varied from 277.6 to 340.5 t, in the case purse seiners, depending on the type and installed engine horse power of the seiners. Salient features of the fishing craft, fishing gear, and fish production of these three categories of fishing vessels are discussed.