Análisis de la flota sardinera-anchovetera del noroeste de México

Abstract

The sardine-anchovy fleet of Northwestern Mexico is analyzed, with special emphasis on its operative fishing efficiency, and including aspects of vessel physical characteristics. Moreover, the operative efficiency of the fleet is determined in two ways: (1) the relative fishing powers are estimated by means of the CPUE; (2) by means of the evaluation of the percentage of the ships' storage capacity need. A projection of the fishing potential of the fleet is also made, and the fleet's mobility is related to its efficiency. The paper draws the conclusion that the present size of the fleet should not be increased; that "small" and "big" vessels operate differently depending on the resourse upon which they act (sardine or anchovy); that the most efficient ship category, operatively speaking, includes those with a 101 - 150 t storage capacity; and that an adequate management of the fleet as a whole is needed (mobility of the fleet) in order to increase capture amounts without requiring an increase on the number of ships, thus making sure that overcapitalization in the extractive phase in particular and in fishery in general is avoided.