Results of the experimental trawl fishing in the South China Sea by R/V Changi in the years 1970 to 1972

Abstract

From the data collected by R/V CHANGI from 1970 to 1972 the trawl fishing grounds in the South China Sea were discussed. To examine the trend of demersal fish resources, the data collected by R/V HAI-CHING in 1960 – 1962 were also utilized. The areas near to Tioman Island and off the coast of Sarawak were considered as promising fishing grounds, although the mean catch per hour was not too good. Red snappers predominated the catch in most areas, while species composition in the waters off Vietnam was quite different. Although seasonal fluctuations of both mean catch per hour and species composition were not very much, a remarkable annual fluctuation was observed in species composition. Good catches were usually obtained from depths of 51-100 m. Changes in demersal fish resources in the last ten years, both in quantity and quality, if any, may be in a desirable direction. More study on economic and biological aspects are needed to attain a full exploitation of the fishery resources of the region.