Economic Performance of Purse Seine Fishing with Upgraded Fishing Vessel and Equipment: A Case Study in Pattani Province, Thailand

Abstract

Purse seine is a net fishing gear that surrounds fish schools from the bottom and is closed by a purse line passing through all purse rings attached at the bottom of the net (Yingyuad and Chanrachkij, 2010). Usually, hauling the net during fishing operations is done manually by 30–40 laborers, with the cod end of the net kept in the water for scooping the catch, thus requiring several crew members to be on board a purse seine fishing vessel.

Currently, Thai purse-seine fishing vessels have been upgraded by installing modern equipment, including radar, sonar, echo sounder, wireless radio communication systems, and global positioning system (GPS), as well as other auxiliary tools. The development of such innovations for Thai purse seine fishing vessels is necessary to improve energy efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and minimize the workforce required in fishing operations.

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD) initiated the use of auxiliary equipment in purse seine fishing vessel, such as a hydraulic hauling device, known as Power Block, which was pilot tested in Pattani Province, Thailand (Figure 1) to improve the technology of the hauling system and reduce the number of laborers onboard fishing vessels (Thanasarnsakorn et al., 2019). The Power Block is a mechanized system that uses a crane and a specialized power-block winch attached to the crane. Powered by a hydraulic pump and generator engine, the Power Block system facilitates easier hauling of fishing nets, significantly increasing efficiency and reducing manual labor compared to traditional methods.

The installation of the hydraulic crane and power block on the pilot purse seine fishing vessel has been effective in reducing the number of crew members onboard during fishing operations and relieving them of the hard work of manually hauling the net (Thanasansakorn and Thimkrap, 2019). However, since it is crucial to consider the economic assessment of purse seine fishing using vessels with improved technology, including the overall cost of an upgraded fishing vessel and its operations and maintenance costs, as well as the anticipated benefit of purse seine fishing, SEAFDEC/TD, in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries (DOF) of Thailand, conducted a pilot economic study of purse seine fisheries in Pattani Province, Thailand. The study aimed to determine the economic performance of purse seine fishing using upgraded vessels equipped with a Power Block system. The purse seine fisheries data used were collected from the owner of the purse seine fishing vessel involved in the SEAFDEC/TD pilot study.