Impact of mesh size reduction of trawl nets on the prawn fishery of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Since 1967 routine monitoring studies on the prawn fisheries was undertaken and, of late especially from 1977 onwards it was noticed that relatively smaller prawns of the conventional species as well as adults of the tiny shrimp Acetes started appearing regularly in the trawl catches in considerable quantities. This has prompted an analysis of the prawn catches of the area in relation to the mesh sizes of the nets operated and the results are reported here.