dc.description.abstract |
Economic analysis of Theppam fishery was made from April 2008 to December 2008.
"Thepparna" is a traditional fishing craft and usually fishing is carried out with small
meshedgillnets. Fishing operation was limited to the region within 0.8km - I.Skm from
the shore and depth is about 7m -10m. More than 4S% of the fishermen fished at 9m
depth and more than SO% catch were recorded from the 9m depth. Usually, Theppam
fishermen depart from the shore about 3.30am to 4.00am and return to shore about
7.30am to 8.00am actual effective time of fishing is range 1 hour to 2hours. In early
stages,Theppam were made out of timber, but now Theppams are made out with Fiber
ReinforcedPlastics. After 19S0s some Theppams were powered with out board engines.
But in the study area only non motorized plastic Theppams were found and they were
operated using an oar. Sizes of the Theppam's are range from l l.Sft to 12.Sft in length.
Crew size of the Theppam is usually one. Gillnets were the main gear use in Theppam
fishery.Length of the one net piece was IS00 meshes and width of the one net piece was
330 meshes. Usually 4-6 net pieces were used. 12mm, 19mm, 23mm, 28mm, 4Smm and
50mmstretched mesh nets were operated during the study period. July to September was
the peak period to Theppam fishery. Sardinella sp were the main fish sp contributes to
the catch. They contribute about 50% of the total catches. Daily catch ranged from 0 -
15kg.The lowest estimated annual catch of a Theppam was 1357kg and the highest was
2001kg.Estimated annual total catch from the study area was 29443 kg. Daily income of
a Theppam ranged from 0 to 2350 rupees. Estimated annual income was 206744 to
302833rupees. Daily cost of operation Theppam ranged from 0 to 1000 rupees while
estimated annual operational cost was 288 to 5750 rupees. Investing to a "Theppama"
and Gillnets are the capital costs of a Theppam fishery. Price of a "Thepparna" ranged
24,000 - 40,000 rupees and price of a twine multifilament gillnet is 7000 rupees.
Theppamsearn a profit which is 10 times its cost. It is a highly economic craft. |
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