Bull trawl operation banned along Karnataka coast to reduce indiscriminate exploitation of juvenile fishes

Abstract

Mangalore Fisheries Harbour is one of the major marine fish landing centres of Karnataka, contributing more than 40 % of the total marine fish landed in the state. Bull trawling or pair trawling is done along the coastal districts of Karnataka with peak operations during the post-monsoon (September to November) period. The pair trawls target pelagic and semi-pelagic schooling fishes, like carangids, scombroids, clupeids, pomfrets, squids, etc. and the catch mainly consist of juveniles, including those of high value fishes