Multiday ring seine fishing for tunas - A new initiative at Cuddalore,Tamil Nadu

The introduction of ring seine in Tamil Nadu was to target shoaling fishes like oil sardine. The volume of oil sardine landings in Tamil Nadu showed tremendous improvement after the use of this gear. Though Tamil Nadu government banned the operation of this gear in 2000, it is still active in certain parts of Tamil Nadu like Cuddalore which is the most important ring seine fishery centre. In Cuddalore, the mechanized ring seine fishery started in 2009. The units were bought from Kerala and hence the size of the boat and engine power, size of net and operation of the gear were similar to those used in Kerala. The normal operation of ring seine is within 30 to 50 m area and very close to the shore, The catch is brought to the landing centre in carrier boats on the same day. The oil sardine fishery in 2017 was a failure because of which the operation of ring seines was almost suspended.