Fisheries exploration and research studies of the seamounts of the Southern Indian Ocean were carried using seven classes of vessels: PPR, RTMS, BMRT, RTMA, STM, SRTM and SRTMK[8]. The principal specifications of these vessels are listed in Table 4.1.
Table 4.1
Principal characteristics of Ukrainian research and fishing vessels operated in the Southern Indian Ocean
Vessel class |
Type of vessel |
LOA (m) |
GRT |
Engine power (kW) |
|||
Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
||
PPR |
Stern trawler |
102.70 |
103.59 |
4734 |
5019 |
2205 |
2280 |
RTMS |
Stern trawler |
101.46 |
102.00 |
3090 |
3149 |
2484 |
2852 |
BMRT |
Stern trawler |
83.57 |
84.70 |
2323 |
3170 |
1470 |
1470 |
RTMA |
Stern trawler |
82.00 |
82.20 |
2164 |
2177 |
1705 |
1710 |
STM |
Stern trawler |
62.20 |
62.20 |
2062 |
2062 |
1764 |
1764 |
SRTMK |
Stern trawler |
54.80 |
54.80 |
635 |
722 |
735 |
853 |
SRTM |
Side trawler |
52.90 |
54.80 |
558 |
632 |
588 |
588 |
The research vessels had the same fishing abilities as commercial fishing vessels, except they had less hold capacity as some internal space was used for scientific laboratories. Vessels of the SRTM and SRTMK class were generally used for line, longline and pot fishing. For this purpose they were specially converted to be able to deploy vertical lines, lobster pots, bottom and pelagic long-lines and lift nets. However they retained the ability to fish using trawls.
This review uses the following common names of fishes:
Butterfishes, meaning a mixture of: |
|
|
|
rudderfish |
(Centrolophus niger) |
|
bluenose warehou |
(Hyperoglyphe antarctica) |
|
New Zealand ruffe |
(Schedophilus huttoni) |
|
black ruffe |
(Schedophilus maculatus) |
|
and violet warehou |
(Schedophilus velaini). |
Rubyfishes means a mixture of: |
|
|
|
Cape bonnetmouth |
(Emmelichthys nitidus) |
|
and rubyfish |
(Plagiogeneion rubiginosum). |
A complete list of fish recorded at the Southern Indian Ocean seamounts and their common English names is presented in Appendix I.
Statistics of fishing effort and annual catch of the Soviet (Ukrainian) fleet by vessel class and type of fishing gear are listed in Tables 4.2 and 4.3. Target species for the Soviet (Ukrainian) fleet were alfonsino (Beryx spelendens), rubyfishes (two species) and butterfishes (generally two species C. niger and H. antarctica). The Soviet (Ukrainian) fishing fleet never targeted orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) and dories in this area though these species were recorded in research vessel catches[9].
[8] Translating Russian vessel
class terms into English is not easy, and generally only the abbrevations
were used in Russian. The authors give the following:[9] This species has no commercial interest for Soviet/Ukrainian fishing vessels, which operated generally for internal food supply of the country. Under hygienic regulations this species was not allowed for human consumption due to its chemical composition (high content of nonsaponifying fats). |