Studies On Fish BehaviourIn Relation Net Transparency of Millennium Gillnet Operation In Bondet Waters, Cirebon

Abstract

The millennium gillnet was recently adopted by Cirebon fishermen. Its use has been spread to other areas. Research on this type of gear is rare. The objectives of this research were: (1) to investigate the effects of net transparency on fish behaviour in relation to net panel of millennium gillnet; and (2) to obtain information on catch composition and capture process of millennium gillnet. This research consisted of laboratory experiment and field experiment. The laboratory experiment was conducted from August 2005 to March 2006 at Fish Behaviour Laboratory, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. The field experiment was carried out in October to November 2006 in waters off Cirebon. The result concludes that: (1) net transparency affected the Japanese Jack mackerel behaviour in relation to contrast colour of the net panel; (2) the effect of usage - reduced transparency on mackerel behaviour was not significant; (3) catch of millennium gillnet in the field was dominated by threadfins (71.29%); and (4) capture condition of the catch of millennium gillnet was dominated by gilled and wedged.