Estimates of optimum fleet size for the exploited Indian shelf fisheries

Abstract

A characteristic feature of marine fish production in India is its annual fluctuations, as vividly shown by the statistics of production for the past four decades. Marine fisheries still remain open access and suffer from overcapitalization. About 2,43,000 fishing vessels (1,82,096 artisanal craft, 26,171 motorised craft and 34,571 mechanised craft) exploit this area, where the estimated annual potential is 2.2 million, tonnes. A conservative estimate of investment on fishing implements (craft as well as gear), at current prices is about Rs. 33.4 billion, but the return per unit investment seems hardly viable. Unhealthy competition and unregulatedfishing may decimate the exploited stocks and therefore, the question of decidingthe optimum size of fishing fleets which wouldallow sustainable yields becomes very relevant.