Efficiency of fishing activities of trawlers and gillnets on the coast of Ben Tre province

Abstract

This study aims to describe the technical aspects, financial efficiency, and factors affecting the profit from fishing activities of trawlers and gillnets on the coast of Ben Tre province. The study was carried out in 2020 and 2021 through direct interviews of 170 fishing households (85 households of trawlers and 85 households of gillnets). The results show that the average catch yield per trip of trawlers (D6 to less than 12 m) is the lowest (116.8 kg/fishing trip), and that of the gillnets (D12 to less than 15 m) is the highest (542.9 kg/fishing trip). The average profit of the trawlers ranges between 3.6 and 15.5 million VND/fishing trip, corresponding to the marginal profit ratio of 1 to 1.6 times. In contrast, the net profit and marginal profit ratio of the gillnets range from 4.1 to 15.5 million VND/fishing trip and from 1.4 to 1.8 times. Three factors positively correlated with the net profit of fisherman's activities are (1) number of labourers on board (people/vessel); (2) D1 (trawlers with a vessel length of 6 to less than 12 m); and (3) D2 (gillnets with a vessel length of 12 to less than 15 m).