Performance evaluation of purse seiners operated in the Black Sea for different fishing seasons

This study aims the economic evaluation of purseine fishing vessels operated in the Black Sea. The data used were obtained by means of data sheets given the skippers and face to face interviews with five pilot fishing vessels chosen arbitrarily. Fishing area is in between Zonguldak and Artvin in Turkey and some part of Georgia.By means of economic evaluation the fuel was found to be highest component of running costs for five fishing vessels. Running costs were also increased with the length of fishing vessels. Five fishing vessels were found to be profitable for the both seasons examined. Net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) were used as economic evaluation criteria to assess and compare the fishing vessels. It was found that the optimum engine power for fishing vessels should be within 2000 and 3000 HP. The optimum gross tonnages (GT) were also found to be within 150 and 200.Taking into account the amount of anchovy catches of two seasons, the average amount of catch per fishing vessel was computed to be 3080 tons. Assuming the number of anchovy purse seiner operated in the Black Sea is at least 150, it is concluded that the total amount of anchovy catch should be 462000 tons. However, this figure is two times more than that of in official statistics.