Current status of marine fish production in Karnataka

Tweet

In the course of the past five decades, the annual, marine fish production of india increased from about 0.9 million tones in late 60s to the current level of 2.6 million. tHE total fish production increased from 75,793 tones n 1969 to 2,51,012 tones in 1989 and started declining threarter with a production of 1,39,676 tents. The contribution of annual pelagic fish production varied between 80% in 1975 to 50% in 1994. The growth in the production of crustaceans shows to different scenarios. The production of traditionally export oriented species such as paneaid prawns and lobsters is declining in recent years. The production of shrimps doubled from 3098 tonnes in 1980 to 6688 tonnes in 1990 with the introduction of trawlers in inshore and offshore waters. However the signs of over harvesting is reflected by the decline in the total landings itself apaart from other signs some of the other species such as crabs and stomatopods gained export importance during early 1990s and wth concerntartion of more effort on these species the production though increased initially also ahve started declining in recent years. In contrast to the growth in fishery production, the total number of mechanzed fishing boats doubled duirng the last two decades. During the corresponding period, the number of non mechanized boats also increasede. almost all these non-mechanized boats are motorized and fifted with outboard engines. The increase in the number of boats is also coupled with the enhancement of fishing capacity in terms of its size, engne horsepower, electronic equipments etc that is not properly reflected and quantfied.