Fish and fish products marketing facets, fault lines and future

Abstract

Though the basic responsibility of the lead paper is to draw attention to the existing market performance of the fish and fish products based on the structure and conduct of its market, in the current context it is important to simultaneously educate keen readers on the special requirements of this sector vis-à-vis other market oriented agricultural commodities as fisheries economics is still in its infancy in India. Consider the following scenario- the stagnating marine fish production, a fast growing aquaculture sector, an international market segment operating practically in isolation of the domestic market, a product profile that caters exclusively to the export market and a domestic market solely centered around low value fishes, export prices at the mercy of the market, domestic prices on catch, institutional support practically non existent and technology without props of an evolved extension mechanism. A classical instance of a market that is both rigid yet latently dynamic ( Ayyappan and Diwan, 2004)