A comparative study on the principal dimensions of the tuna purse seiners in the Pacific off Mexico and the USA

The dimensional parameters of the tuna purse seiners in the Pacific off Mexico and the USA were investigated. The principal dimension used in the present study were length overall(Loa), breadth(B), depth(D), gross tonnage(GT) and horsepower(HP). The coefficients and average values of the principal dimensions of the Mexican and USA vessels were calculated and compared. The results showed that the Loa, B, D, GT and HP averages of the Mexican purse seiners were 22.5, 8.1, 2.1, 19.6 and 18.5% greater, respectively, as compared with those of the USA seiners. The volume (Loa x B x D) of the USA seiners was equal to that of the Mexican fleets, while the HP of the USA vessels was 7.6% less. The USA seiners have a more slender and hydrodynamic form.