The present status of small scale traditional fishery at Tuticorin

Abstract

Tuticorin enjoys an imique position along the Gulf of Mannar in the east coast of India in view of the facilities available for the development and exploitation of the marine fisheries of the region. A good flashing harbour affords facilities for smaller trawlers in the mechanised fishing sector. Large industrial fishery trawlers get facilities in the major harbour. There is a well established traditional system of craft and gears suited for the local conditions. This account is a positive attempt to highlight the changing pattern of the traditional fishery over the last few years and gives a comprehensive coverage of the gear-wise, specieswise and season-wise fish landings by the small scale traditional sector from 1979 to 1985 based on regular sampling of the commercial catch at Tuticorin fish landing centres.