Assessment of Catch Retention and Escapement in Square and Diamond Mesh Cod-ends along the East Coast of India

Trawling is a major fishing method prevailing in Indian marine fisheries contributing to major marine fish landing. The objectives of the present studied were to compare the selectivity characteristics of square and diamond mesh cod-ends for the 7 important marine fish species in conservation and management point of view.. Present studied observed higher in overall percentage of escapement from 35 mm square in comparison to diamond mesh cod-end. From square mesh cod-end, Indian anchovy (S. indicus) showed highest escapement percentage at 10.4% (2.6 kg) and retained of 89.6% (22.4 kg) while the lowest percentage of escapement (2.03% (0.5 kg)) with retained of 97.9% (24.1 kg) was recorded for I. megaloptera. From diamond mesh cod-end, highest escapement of 6.08% (1.4 kg) and retained of 92.7% (21.6 kg) was recorded for S. longiceps. The 0% of escapement with 100% retained was accorded for I. megaloptera from diamond mesh co-end. Overall square mesh observed better escapement in comparison with diamond shaped cod-end of commercial bottom trawl net.