The paper presents the results of a survey carried out in 1985 and 1986 on

the purse seine fishery in Hikkaduwa and Ambalangoda areas along the south
west coast of Sri Lanka. During the study period there were 59 purse seiners
operating in this area. This fishery was carried-out only during the calm
months i.e. from October to April each year using 3.5 ton boats with inboard
engines. The size of the purse seine net varied from 150-210 meter in length
and 50 m in depth. Fishing was usually carried out at night using 1500 watt
bulbs for light attraction. The average catch per unit effort for purse seiners
for 1985 and 1986 was 185.7 kg/boat. The total fish production by the
purse seine fishery in this area during the study period was around 205t per
annum which is about (12%) of the total marine fish production in this area.
Amblygaster sirm (herring) is the most dopiinant species in the purse seine
catch. Among others caught are Decapterus macarellus (scads ) Rastrelliger
kanargurta ( Indian mackerel) and Loligo sp. . (squids). The size range of A.sirm
caught by the purse seines and the small meshed gill nets are the same indicating
that these two gear fish the same sardine stocks.