Status and programmes of marine fisheries development and management in Lakshadweep

Abstract

Tuna and tuna like fishes of Indian seas which remain largely underexploited at present, held the greatest promise for development of fishing Industry In India. The percentage composition of total tunas in the all India marine fish production ranged from 0.3 In 1970 to 1.36 In 1984-85. Lakshadweep a group of coral Islands in the Arabian Sea has got the distinction of being the only region In India where an organised fishery for tuna has been established In the small scale mechanised sector. Lakshadweep waters consisting of 20000 sq.kms. of territorial waters and 400000 sq.kms. of exclusive economic zone is potentially rich for tuna and shark. It is estimated that Lakshadweep waters support of fishable stock of 50000 tonnes of skipjack, 50000 tonnes of deep water tuna and allied species and 1 lakh tonnes of shark. Against this the present exploitation is 4807 tonnes of tuna In 1986 forming 87% of its total marine fish catch and around 16% of the total tuna catch of India. The principal gear employed is pole and line. Troll lines and hand lines form subsidiary gears.