Report of the Special Scientific Team to Andaman and Nicobar Islands to give research support to thrust areas in fisheries

Abstract

Realising the importance and urgent need for judicious exploitation and utilization of the marine living resources of the Andaman and Nicobar seas, the Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) as Chairman of the Central Coordinating Committee for Survery of Living Resources had recommended at the first meeting of the committee, held in May 1988 that the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) should depute its scientists to the Central Agricultural Research Institute for Andaman and Nicobar Islands (CARI), Port Blair on a fixed tenure basis to support the R&D thrust in fisheries in the region. Consequent to this, from 1-8 March 1989 the Director, CMFRI made a visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to make an on-the-spot study of the potentials and possibilities for marine fisheries development in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Bay Islands. Special attention was paid to the requirements of CARI in marine fisheries research. The Director also met and discussed with senior policy and decision makers in the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. As a result, two scientific teams with specific objectives were constituted. This is the report of the first team.