Current status of tuna fisheries in India

Tuna fisheries in India have undergone significant changes in recent years. Though the \ncoastal multi-species fishery is the mainstay for harvesting tunas and tuna-like fishes, \ntargeted fishery for exploiting the high value tunas is emerging. Awareness has been \ncreated among the stakeholders that the continental shelf resources are more or less fully \nutilized and that further avenue for development lies in harvesting the oceanic tuna stocks. \nFishing capacity from the shelf fishery is being diverted, with appropriate modifications, \nfor harvesting the oceanic tuna resources. The production of tunas and tuna-like fishes has \ngone up to an all time high of 158,458 tonnes during the year 2008, out of which 24.2% \nwas formed of oceanic tunas and 35% by neritic tunas. Exports of tunas and tuna products \nhave shown remarkable growth with an all time high export figure of 37,302 tonnes in the \nyear 2007-0