Identification and catch composition of Moshta set net in Hormozgan Province

Moshta (Hadrah in Arabic language) is an intertidal fixed stake trap which is one of the oldest types of fishing gear in the countries of the Persian Gulf including the southern coast of Iran. The detailed data on the mass caught by Moshta in terms of species and quantity (tons/year) in periods of 2007-2010 and 2013-2017 of Hormozgan Province were collected from the Iranian fisheries organization (“Shilat” in Iran) and analyzed in Excel to indicate the amount of catch and the commercial status of aquatic landings. In Iran, Moshtas are only found in the southern provinces. In Hormozgan Province, they are used for earning a livelihood. Many commercial species including demersal and pelagic fishes, shrimp and crabs, are caught by this fishing gear. Moreover, some aquatic animals such as sea turtles and sea snakes may be entangled as by-catch. Results showed that over 34 species of aquatic organisms can be caught by set net (Moshta) in Hormozgan Province coastal area. Analysis of catch composition shows that in Hormozgan province, bony fish with 59.66% have a major share in the composition of fishery. Then, cartilaginous fish with 20.41% and crustaceans with 18.90% are at the next level and in finally, cephalopods have the least share (1.02%). In addition, Himantura sp. (10.76%), Himantura sp. (49.67%), Metapenaeus affinis & Fenneropenaeus merguiensis (18.90%), Portunus pelagicus (16.32%), Arius sp. (18.15%), Liza klunzingeri (10.43%), Pseudorhombus arsius (16.13%), Portunus pelagicus (13.04%), Metapenaeus affinis & Fenneropenaeus merguiensis (15.25%) were the dominant species of Moshta in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. Furthermore, results clearly illustrate reduced fishing during the second period of catch, 2013-2017, (by the average of 410.2 tons per year) in comparison with the first period (2007-2010, with the average of 1053.5 tons per year).