A preliminary analysis of the flyingfish fishery off Kandakuliya in Sri Lanka

Abstract

A preliminary analysis of the flyingfish fishery in Kandakuliya of the Kalpitiya Peninsula is presented. The study is based on a survey carried out during the periods September 1991 to April, 1992 and September 1992 to April 1993. Fishing operations were mainly carried out by 5.0 - 5.5m FRM boats, using small meshed gillnets during the daytime. The mesh mesh size of the gillnets range from 29-48 mm. Fishing operations were limmited to to the region 20-30 km from the shore. Total catch, effort and catch per unit effort (CPUE) showed seasonal variations. Peak catches were observed from November to January. Mean CPUE varied from 110 to 155 kg/boat/day from 1991 to 1993. The total annual production from this fishery is about 1500 MT/year. This fishery is dependent on 9 species of flyingfish of which Hirundichthys oxycephalus contributes up to 46perc. of the catch. Species composition changes seasonally