Assessment of Catch Composition and Fishing Effort (CPUE) in the Small-Scale Fisheries of Hawks Bay, in the northern Arabian Sea

The study determines catch composition of the small-scale fisheries from Hawks Bay in the northern Arabian Sea by means of catch per unit effort (CPUE). Seasonal data collection from February to December 2024 using a 2.5 cm mesh gill net deployed for one hour from a small commercial fishing boat. The total catch was 31.82 kg, comprising 26 families and 49 species. The target species consisted of 1.87 kg with 4 species, while the bycatch contained 29.95 kg composed of 45 species from 25 different families. The study revealed that the seasonal CPUE of the target catch (Ponyfish) varied and differed significantly in weight and length. The most abundant target species was Karalla daura found in all seasons, but the remaining species were found in a specific time period. Although Banded Ilisha, Ilisha striatula, is predominant on the coast of Hawk’s Bay. The Anderson-Darling test was applied to test seasonal variations in CPUE statistics, which showed the highest mean value in SIM (110.1), 74.47 in AIM, and the Lowest mean value in SWM (61.76). This disparity suggests that bycatch variability was most pronounced in SIM, reflecting the greatest seasonal fluctuations. However, the target species, including ecologically critical families crucial for the food web and fisheries production, remained unstable. Therefore, implementing effective management strategies is essential to ensure sustainable harvesting of these species.