Marine Fisheries Policy Series No.11; Management Plans for the Marine Fisheries of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Marine fisheries are dynamic and always prone to change in tune with the changing demands, challenges, advancement of technologies etc, as is evident in modification of fishing crafts and fishing gear, extension of fishing ground, emergence of new resources, collapse and disappearance of certain resources and new forms of market demands. The overall results of such changes have both positive and negative impacts on the fishery and this necessitates continuous monitoring and interventions to ensure sustainability of the fishery as well as conservation of the resources. This policy guidance gives an overall picture of the present status of marine fisheries of Tamil Nadu, various changes in the crafts, gears, trends in landing of major resources over the years, their distributional range, status of stocks, social structure of the fishing community, economics of the fishing operations, main drivers for fishing and the need for improved management of the exploited stocks for overall sustained growth of the marine capture fisheries sector of Tamil Nadu. The recommendations given in the document are based on scientific studies and analysis carried out by the scientists associated with the Tamil Nadu Fishery Management Plans project, interactions with various stakeholders during official meetings as well as personal meetings at different landing centres.