Catching Efficiency Of Artisanal Estuarine Winter Migratory Bag Net EWMBN Operated Along Hooghly - Matlah Estuary West Bengal India.

ABSTRACT Hooghly-Matlah estuarine system in the state of West Bengal in India sustains worlds important multi-species commercial fisheries. Winter migratory bag net is one of the most important artisanal fishing gears used for exploitation of the resources in stretches of the estuary. A study was carried out during 2010-11 to find out the current catching efficiency of this artisanal net. A total of twenty-two 22 fishing trials were carried out in day time along the lower stretches of the estuary. Soaking period was fixed to six 6 hours for every experiment excluding the time of setting and hauling. After 6 hours of hauling the catch obtained was sorted out into finfishes shellfishes and by-catches. Catching efficiency of the net was judged after testing the significant difference between the total catches by weight obtained in the net. Results revealed that the catch rate of existing estuarine winter migratory bag net EWMBN had an average catch rate of 96.09kghaul. The average rate of by-catch was 27.13kghaul. The percentage contribution of commercial groups of finfishes shellfishes and by-catch were 56.06 17.93 and 26.01 respectively. There was no significant difference found between the average catches obtained from the existing winter migratory bag net during the period of study at 5 level.