A STUDY ON TRAWL BYCATCH AND ITS UTILIZATION ALONG UDUPI COAST OF KARNATAKA.

Trawl bycatch in marine capture has become a serious issue that requires prompt interventions. Different management measures are being followed to mitigate this issue among which gear based technical measures like BRDs are widely used. Seasonal variations and utilization pattern is very important in understanding the scenario and they are very important inputs for development and implementation of any management regulation in a fishery. The purpose of this study was to quantify the total bycatch and also the incidence of juveniles in the bycatch generated by commercial trawlers operating off Udupi coast during the study a total 141 species were recorded in bycatch. During the year 2019-20 a total 34 commercial species were reported in bycatch whereas, it is increased to76 species during the year 2020-21 with increased number of low value fish species. This trend showed that significant increase of both low value fish species and commercial fish species in bycatch. The highest trawl bycatch contribution 76.04% (2020-21) was observed during the study period and the highest bycatch percentage was observed during post monsoon period i.e., February 2020 (87.90%) followed by February 2021 (82.47%). Lowest bycatch percentage was recorded during monsoon period i.e., August-2019 (55.50%) and August 2020 (61.01%). Average bycatch per haul was 195.66 kg in 2019-20 and 184.83 kg. in 2020-21, average catch per haul was 255.60 kg in 2019-20 and 242.74 kg. In post-monsoon months, the bycatch landing was more than monsoon months. It has shown the increasing trend of bycatch landings compared to 2019-20. It has shown the poor landings of bycatch during monsoon months. In postmonsoon months, the bycatch landing was more than monsoon and premonsoon months. The peak landing of bycatch was during February in both years. In the present study the major portion of the bycatch is going to fishmeal and oil industry (55.84%) followed by fresh fish Consumption (15.71%), dry fish consumption (8.59%), surimi production (10.16%) and export was around 9.7% of the bycatch. The techno-economic feasibility of bycatch utilization by fish meal and fish oil industry along Udupi coast haveshown that Rs. 12300/-is the net profit for production of fish meal and other product out of 1000kg raw material. Out of which Fish meal is 20%, fish oil contributes 5% and fish soluble varies from15%. The utilization of bycatch may have positive role to increase the benefits of industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]