Fish ID - An eBOOK : Commercially Important Marine Fish Landings in Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago (Vol-I)

Abstract

Not AAndaman and Nicobar are a group of 572 Islands located in the Bay of Bengal which is endowed with rich marine biodiversity and coastal ecosystems. The estimated annual harvestable potential of marine fishery resources is 1.48 lakh tonnes whereas the present harvest stands closer to 40,000 tonnes. The critical need to bridge the gap between the potential and the harvest were emphasized over these years through harnessing the coastal and deep-sea fishery resources. However, a foremost issue that needs to be addressed remains the reliable estimation of fish landings through standard methodologies. Unorganized data collection and projection could lead to misrepresentation of the fishery resources which could affect the planning, conservation and management of resources. For proper data collection and reporting, the stakeholders at the field level must have adequate exposure and knowledge on the identification of marine fish landings. This handbook aims to assist the stakeholders engaged in fishery data collection and management with detailed information on the commercially important fisheries across the Islands. We strongly believe that this handbook could act as a ready reckoner on the identification of commercially landed marine fishes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islandsvailable