Fuel Consumption and Fishing Performance Analysis of Mersin Trawl Fisheries

A survey has been conducted face to face with 28 people who are owner and/or captain of the trawl vessel for determination the effects of fuel consumption and applications made by fishermen in Mersin Bay. Trawlers have been preferred due to highest fuel consumption values between fishing gears and as a result %84 of fishermen have been found complaint about fuel consumption. Change of the propeller and/or reduction gear, change and/or maintenance of the engine have been determined as the foreground technical modifications applied by fisherman for reducing consumption and found %39 and %25 respectively. Operation of the main engine by fishermen at unnecessarily high speeds due to the escape of the fish or time constraint has led to inefficient use of the fuel. Approximately 3 liters of diesel oil consumption for 1 kg fish catch have been extracted throughout the survey and declared that consumption sometimes fails to meet the cost related to the value of the product obtained. In conclusion, despite all the modifications or changes made, it has been determined that fuel consumption has not been reduced and solutions have been searching about the problem