PRESENT STATUS OF EXPLOITATION OF FISH AND SHELLFISH RESOURCES

Despite the fact that several communications in the past have dealt with the trend of tuna fishery at different centres along the west coast of India, no directed attempt has been made till date to study the tuna fishery during the southwest monsoon period along this coast and to synthesise its problems and prospects. The present communica­ tion deals with their trend, general fishery, craft and gear employed in the fishing, fishing grounds, seasonal variation in catch, effort and catch rate and characteristics during premonsoon, monsoon and postmonsoon seasons. In addition, the sf)ecies composition and length composition of major species during different seasons and available information of the spawning biology of tunas along the west coast of India are also dealt with. The effect of tuna fishing, demand and price structure during monsoon period as compared to other seasons and the management measures are also presented and discussed. At present, monsoon fishery for tunas is confined to the Kerala Coast along the west coast of India. Continued operation of Pablo boats, motorisation of the traditional aafts and innovation in the gears gave a sudden fillip in tima production in this State since 1984. Results of study indicate that in other maritime States also, the extended area of operation and diversified fishing through motorisation of country crafts, for high priced larger pelagics including tunas, have enhanced the revenue of the small scale fishery sector. However, in view of the dwindling catch rates observed at certain centres during the present study, caution has to be exercised in promoting indiscriminate motorisation programme in the tuna fishery in the artisanal sector, eventhough no conflict has been reported between the fishermen operating non-motorised and motorised crafts (7 to 24 HP) operating for tunas. Suitable demarcation of the region between sub-sectors, installation of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), diversification of fishing operation by the introduction of multi-day boats for driftnetting, increasing the mobility of purse seiners and intensification of the troll line and handline fishery during monsoon season by sail power are the suggested management measures for augmenting production of tunas during the southwest monsoon period along the west coast of India.