Costs and Returns of the Commercial Fisheries in the Man-made Lakes in Surin Province, Thailand

Abstract

     Three types of fisheries, viz. gillnets, longlines and traps, in the two irrigated man-made lakes in Surin province in the NE of Thailand, were analyzed in terms of profits Gillnets showed the highest operation cost, 8,891.2 baht per fishing season following by 5,850.3 and 4,776.4 baht per fishing season for longlineand trap- fisheries respectively. From the catch composition in each gear and the current market values of individual species, the current incomes that the fishers obtained from their fisheries were 37.4, 54.4 and 52.7 baht kg^-1 for gillnet, longline and trap fisheries respectively. According to fishing costs per one fishing season, CpUE and number of fishing days, it was estimated that the break-even prices in the respective fisheries were 10.1, 14.8 and 10.3 baht kg-1, which indicated that the fishers have made a profit. The monitoring program and community based management on lake environments and fisheries resources as well as the fish stock enhancement program are recommended to sustain the fisheries.