Modifications of craft and gear in diversified tuna fishery undertaken at Tharuvaikulam. Gulf of Mannar, India

At present nearly 30 shrimp trawlers have been converted for drift gill net fishing at Tharuvalkulam. In the years to come perhaps more and more trawlers may be converted for tuna fishery employing drift gill net. The day may not be far away even, to introduce the mechanical hauling system which is no longer in use. It has been reported that seven species of tuna such as E. qfflnis. A. thazard, A. rochei, T. albacares, T. tonggol. S. orientalis and K. pelamis occur during tuna season (June-Oct) and in the rest of period only a few species of tuna would support the fishery. However, due to recent development during the off season also one can encounter seven species of tuna. Diversification in the small scale fishing sector with greater use of drift gillnets and crafts may play a vital role in augmenting the production of tunas along the Gulf of Mannar coast