power

noun

fishing power is the catch which a particular gear or vessel takes from a given density of fish during a certain time interval. Larger vessels have a greater ability to catch more fish and thus have greater their fishing power. Also, improvements in a vessel or gear, such as fish finders, Loran, etc., can increase fishing power. Depends on the area or volume affected by the gear, relative to the total area covered by the stock (a/A), the number of animals present in that area or volume relative to the total stock (n/N), and the proportion (p) of the animals present in that area or volume which can effectively be captured by the gear. If the stock (N) were randomly distributed in the distribution area (A), the proportion of the stock present in the sector affected by the gear (n/N) would be equal to (a/A) and the catch would be (pa/AN). p(a/A) will give a direct measure of fishing mortality.