Sustainable flying fish (hirundichthys oxycephalus) fishing with a drift gillnet in Makassar Strait, Indonesia

Abstract

Flying fish is an important economic fish that many hunted fishermen, especially their roes. As a result, flying fish populations in the Makassar Strait was already experience high exploitation pressures. Gill nets were the dominant fishing gear with the net mesh size were varying depending on the season. The study aimed to compare the capture capability of gill nets with three different mesh sizes. The study used a field experimental approach to obtain gill nets selectivity on flying fish catch. Variables observed include different net mesh sizes (1, 1.25, and 1.5- inches), number, weight, and a fork length of flying fish catches. Data were analyzed using variance tests to compare treatments. The fish catch data shows that the highest fish catches were 1.25-inch, and the rest 1 inches and 1.5 inches. The results of the statistical test show that the number of catch fish is highly significant different (P<0.05) on the mesh size of 1-inch, 1.25- inches, and 1.5- inches. There was an indication that flying fishes getting smaller, which is indicated by most of the fish catches, pass the length at the first maturity size. Gillnet of 1.25-inch mesh size should be used to maintain the sustainability of the flying fish population.