THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT HANGING RATIOS ON CATCHING EFFICIENCY OF GILLNETS IN NORTHEASTERN TURKISH AEGEAN COASTS

In this study, it was aimed to determine the effect of hanging ratio on the catch per unit effort in gillnets. The study was carried out at 0-30-meter depth in the Northeastern Aegean coast of Turkey between October 15, 2015 - October 15, 2017. In this study, 9 different gillnets for fishing red mullets (Mullus barbatus) and striped mullets (Mullus surmuletus) with 18-20-22 mm mesh size and 0.35-0.50-0.65 hanging ratio were used. At the end of the study, a total of 6961 and 365.97 kg of fish were caught with gillnets, 51 species belonging to 26 families. There was no statistically significant difference between catch per unit effort (CPUE) of nets with different hanging ratios in number and weight based on both each rigged piece of net and in total catch (P> 0.05). When the catch efficiency of the trial nets with different hanging ratios was examined per each rigged piece of net, it was determined that the nets with E=0.65 hanging ratio caught the highest number and weight amount of fish in total catch.