Published Paper Details:

ABSTRACT A reliable and timely forecast on the Potential Fishing Zone using satellite derived sea surface temperature and chlorophyll has become an important aspect for the fishermen. The potential fishing zone (PFZ) advisories received from Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad during April, 2007 to March, 2012 were validated along Maharashtra coast. Available information was disseminated to the fishermen community via electronic digital display boards, internet media, fax and telephonic massages at the 3 major fish landing centers (Harnai, Mirkarwada and Sakhri-Natye) of Ratnagiri district coast of Maharashtra. Feedback was collected for both the PFZ and Non-PFZ locations in the prescribed format developed by INCOIS office Hyderabad. This contains name of vessel or boat, date of fishing, time of hauling, latitude and longitude, type of net used, depth of catch, distance from the coast, direction, catch in kg, major catch in kg and major variety. In the present study an attempt has been made to compare fish catch per unit efforts (CPUE) in the areas predicted by Satellite imagery (potential fishing zones PFZ) and with those of non predicted areas (outside potential fishing zones). The direct validations were done within and outside PFZ area, which shows positive relationship between PFZ and abundance in pelagic fisheries. It means comparing the catch using fishing vessels simultaneously from the potential fishing zones (notified region) with that of catch from outside potential fishing zones (non notified region). Then the Catch per Unit Efforts (CPUE) was computed by dividing total fish catch (Kg) by number of fishing hours. The comparison was made of catch data from PFZ with outside PFZ areas from notified vessels from 3 fish landing centres, in which Mirkarwada fish landing centre showed higher fish catch than Harnai and Sakhri-Natye. Also the CPUE was significantly higher during the year 2011-12 than in 2007-08 and followed by 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. About 70% increases was reported in total fish catch CPUE in potential fishing zones PFZ than outside potential fishing zones PFZ in 30-100 m depth zones. 50% advisory was used by fisher folk of Ratnagiri district which is higher than the fisher folk of Maharashtra State which was used only 40% PFZ forecast to extent their fishing activity. An analysis of fish catch data from fishing vessels (within and outside PFZ) revealed that CPUE was higher in notified areas compared to non-notified areas in trawl as well as purse-seine net operations during 2007-2012. Therefore the accuracy of timely forecasts of PFZ validation is important source of economic gain in fisheries.