ESTIMATION OF CATCH EFFORT IN THE DEHAMED, SOCOTRA - YEMEN

Abstract

Data of reef fisheries in the Dehamed - Socotra provides a good opportunity to assess the effects of fishing on fish community structure. Data between March 2007 and March 2009 were analyzed to determine the CPUE. The Result shows that 149 species belong to 19 families were caught. Five families (Scombridae, Lethrinidae, Serranidae, Lutjanidae, and Xphiidae) were dominate the catch composition, they represent more than 95% of the catch. The analysis of data shows that CPUE of Scombridae was the highest in October 2007, it reaches 3998,46 (kg/day), Also the highest value for Xphiidae was in October, it reaches 830.33(kg/day). Furthermore, the CPUE of Lethrinidae, Serranidae, Lutjanidae was high in February 2008, it reaches 1949.76, 1778, 381.33 (kg/day) respectively.
The result showed that the CPUE on Dehamed was changing during the months of fishing, the highest value was in October 2007, it reaches about 5025.26 (kg/day), however, the lowest value was in May 2008, it reaches about 68.99 (kg/day). For the average CPUE for families, the result shows that the highest value belongs to Scombridae (343.89 kg/day) however the lowest value belongs to Mugilidae (6.55 kg/day). The result also showed that there is a decrease in the CPUE OF all families during the period of study.
Finally, it should be stressed here that elucidating trends in catch rate and composition are important to evaluate the impact of fishing on fish stocks and thereby guide fisheries management action. Since major changes in fish community structure can take place even at the initial stages in the development of fisheries.