Deepsea fishing in Indian waters

Abstract

The development of Indian marine fIsheries since the early 60s from a traditional, subsistence oriented one into an industrial fisheries was quite substantial. This change got accelerated mainly in the mechanised era of the marine fishery sector. Although with the declaration of the EEZ, an area of 2 million sq. km. came into existence in 1977, there has never been a commercial deepsea fishing worth mentioning. However deepwater trawling conducted by two Mexican trawlers (24 m OAL) imported from the USA in 1972 has paved the way for a humble beginning in the deepsea fishing operations. Gradually by 1982-83 about 11 0 chartered and joint venture deepsea fishing vessels began fishing operations and almost without exception, they exploited mostly the inshore grounds upto 50 m and rarely upto 100 m. But once the depth limitations beyond the 80 m depth line for offshore fIshing operations was enforced in 1983, almost all these chartered vessels left the country.