Status of the fishery of Jaffna lagoon, Sri Lanka

Jaffna lagoon (9° 50' N and 79° E to 9°20' 80° 30' E) is the largest in Sri Lanka it provides many services including fishing opportunities people northern Lanka. However, status of fishery not fully known at present due lack detailed studies over last 40 years. Therefore, this study was designed fulfil research gap. Both primary data secondary were used study. Primary data, catch effort collected three major landing sites, Gurunagar, Paasaiyoor, Kachchai by making fortnight field visits from March December 2019. Secondary monthly total obtained district fisheries offices Kilinochchi districts order estimate MSY FMSY. This revealed that ~5340 fishers confined 39 sites actively engaged during period using 12 different methods. Fyke nets (71%) followed stake (10%), seines, boat seines (6%) are widely methods fisheries. Catch rates gear calculated recorded as kg fisherman-1, day-1. Stake net (37kg ± 7) reported a significantly higher rate than fyke (18kg 3), seine (17kg 6), crab (16kg 3) (p<0.05; ANOVA). mechanized (59%) non-mechanized (41%) crafts practices. Forty-six commercially important finfish shellfish species belonging 25 families identified catches which Penaeidae made highest percentage contribution (27%), Siganidae (13%), Mugilidae (11%), Lethrinidae Gerreidae (9%). Analysis confirmed increasing trend since 2009 but landings declined gradually after reporting its maximum value 6958 Mt. 2012. A rough sustainable yield 6,694 Mt with annual (FMSY) 1007 crafts. As current FMSY, input control measures recommended utilize resources manner.