During the 1985-89 period, prawn lanclings in low energy fishing sector amounted to
an annual average of 82800 tonnes. This forms over 4O%of the total prawn lancliI1gs in
the country. Fixed bag nets, seine nets and bottom-set gill nets operated from mechanised
as well as non-mechanised country crafts are the major gear employed in this sector contributing
to about 77% ,17% and 4% of the lancliI1g respectively. Statewise % contribution
by various gear are detailed while bag net catches are predominantly constituted by less
valuable species of non-penaeid prawns, the catches of seine nets and gill nets comprise .
mainly of penaeidprawns that fetch better economic returns to the fishermen. Gill net
catches are the most profitable ones as they are predominantly supported by prawns of
the Penaeus group which carry high unit value
