Operational efficiency of the longline hauler on a prototype artisanal tuna fishing vessel from Margarita Island, Venezuela/Eficiencia operacional del virador de palangre de una embarcacion atunera artesanal prototipo de Isla Margarita, Venezuela

The operational efficiency of the longline hauler on an artisanal tuna fishing vessel from Margarita Island, Venezuela, was determined using the average setting velocity, average hauling velocity, hauler input tension ([T.sub.o]) and traction strength (P). A direct relationship was found between the average gravity ([q.sub.med]) on the long-line section and the hauler input tension ([T.sub.o]). Considering a strength ([P.sub.med]) at the input of the longline hauler ([S.sub.1]), the roller tension ([S.sub.3]) decreases due to the force of H = 23.7 N exerted by the pressure roller, resulting in a strength of [S.sub.4] = 0. The longline average setting velocity was 208 m [min.sup.-1] (~333 hooks/hour) and its hauling velocity was 121 m [min.sup.-1] (~160 hooks/hour), whereas hauler input tension ([T.sub.o]) was 1013 N. Therefore, the new traction strength (P) fluctuated between 1.317 and 1.418 N. Based on torque output from the rollers of the longline hauler, the average hauling velocity ([v.sub.med]) and the transmission relations ([k.sub.1], [k.sub.2]), a required average strength ([N.sub.med]) of 5.3 hp (~3.95 kW) for longline retrieval was estimated. Thus, the hauling efficiency ([T.sub.p]) by longline section was estimated to be 135.4 s.