Economic efficiency of production technology in marine fisheries: A case study of gill net fishing in Mirissa, a fishing village in the south of Sri Lanka.

Abstract

This study attempts to find out as to why there exist significant differences in catches obtained by fishermen employing the gill net technique of fishing. The methodology employed in this include the analysis of efficiency of gill net technology of different fishing units. Return to scale and the degree of correlation among fishing inputs by the use of a “Fishery production function” for gill net fishermen in Mirissa (A fishing village in Southern Sri Lanka) were estimated. Data were collected by administering a pre-tested structured questionnaire to a stratified random sample of fishermen. Collected data were first tabulated and they were subjected to tabular graphical and statistical analysis. Results indicated an increase in the number of net pieces (length of the net) would be most beneficial for fishermen. Almost constant return to scale were found for gill netting in Mirissa. The most notable input correlations were that between mesh size and horse power of the engine; mesh size and number of pieces of the net; number of trips per month and mesh size; and experience of the skipper and age of the skipper. These results have significant policy implications for both development assistance and fisheries regulation. Provision of an input “package” may be more effective in increasing production than providing inputs individually.