Tuna purse seine operation by M.V. SEAFDEC in the East Indian Ocean

Abstract

M.V. SEAFDEC, the Fisheries Training and Research Vessel, has conducted tuna purse seine fishing in the East Indian Ocean from 1994 until today. Because of the situation of declining coastal fishery resources in the Southeast Asia region, oceanic fishery resources are expected to be the new sources of protein in the future. Tuna and tuna-like species are also considered as under exploited oceanic fishery resources. The research objectives are to determine the abundance of tuna species, identify appropriate fishing methods and fishing techniques and also the oceanographic aspects that are related. Southeast Asian countries, especially Thailand, have an advantage in shorter distances from their base to the fishing grounds. Results of the exploration might be useful for those who would like to establish a tuna purse seiner fleet for operations in the East Indian Ocean, which is considered to be a new fishing ground for tuna purse seine compared with others.