EXPLOITATION AND CATCH FLUCTUATION OF SMALL PELAGIC FISHES IN PRIGI WATERS, SOUTH COAST OF JAVA

Studies on the exploitation and catch fluctuations of pelagic fishes have been undertaken in order to understand the fishery systems, annual and seasonal change of fishing effort and catches, as well as species composition. The study was based on the daily monitoring data of the purse seiners. The results showed that generally the fishing activities is one day fishing, the increase of fishing effort reflected in the number of fishing units and the number of trip, while the trend of production and catch rate were fluctuated by either annual or seasonal; the peak of catch rate was occurred in 2007, 2008 and 2012 periods, during December to June were low catches, and are going in the peak season in September-October. The lowest catch rate is about 100kg/trip and the maximum of 4.3 tons/trip (the average of 1.3 tons/trip), however the fail of fishing was often occurs and reached 30% of the total number of trips; the failed fishing was decline from year to year. The catch rate (kg/trip/day) was showed a pattern fluctuations; the small pelagic fish mainly the scads (Decapterus spp.) and clupeids (Bali sardine, Sardinella lemuru), respectively 33% and17%, whereas the dominan large pelagic fish is ‘tongkol’/frigate tuna (Auxis thazzard). The changes of species domination was occurred either in annually or seasonally