Potential marine fishery resources

Among the countries bordering the Indian Ocean, India \nhas strategic advantages in exploitation of marine fish resources \nwith its long coast line of 6100 km and rich and varied fishery \nresources within 2.02 million sq. km Exclusive Economic Zone. \nThe present marine fish production of 1.85 million tonnes is \nless than half of the conservative potential estimate of 4.2 \nmillion tonnes (George et ah 1977). iThe trends in marine fish \nlandings of past few years indicate that the coastal fisheries viz. \noil sardine, mackerel, Bombay duck and penaeid and non-penaeid \nprawns may not contribute significantly for further increase in \nmarine fish production of our country. Hence, while monitoring \nthe resources for management of these stocks for conservation \nas well as exploitation up to the sustainable-yield level, we have \nto be on the look out for new potential resources in our EEZ.