This study presents a comparative evaluation of the sinking performance of traditional small-scale purse-seine gears used in Aceh and Papua, Indonesia, using a three-dimensional mass–spring framework validated by sea-trial data from the Java Sea. Simulations compared sinking behavior under changes in the netting material, knot type, mesh size, and total sinking force across region-specific gear configurations. Compared with existing gear configurations, both modified gear scenarios demonstrated improved sinking performance in Aceh and Papua. In Aceh, the average sinking speed increased from 0.07 to 0.15 m/s in Improved Gear I and to 0.18 m/s in Improved Gear II, while the maximum depth increased from 37.3 to 54.8 m and 56.2 m, respectively. In Papua, the average sinking speed increased from 0.08 to 0.18 m/s and 0.20 m/s, while the maximum depth increased from 37.2 to 56.8 m and 60.6 m, respectively. In both regions, Improved Gear II exhibited the highest sinking performance. Enhanced sinking performance was accompanied by higher purse-line tension during pursing, with maximum values of 1666 kgf in Aceh and 1589 kgf in Papua. These results suggest that design tendencies identified in previous Indonesian studies, particularly a comparative reference sinking force (1.24 kgf/m), larger mesh size, and knotless polyester netting, appear consistent across the two regional cases examined. However, because the modified scenarios represent coupled multivariable scenarios and direct local field validation was not available for Aceh and Papua, the findings should be interpreted as comparative simulation-based evidence for assessing gear-modification options rather than as absolute in situ predictions.
Widagdo et al. (Mon,) studied this question.