Department of Fisheries, Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is endowed with rich and varied potential \nfor development of marine fisheries. It has a long \ncoastline of 1000 kilometers and a continental shelf \narea of about 41412 sq. km. The estimates of potential \nannual catch from the EEZ of Tamil Nadu vary from 4 \nto 8.6 lakh tonnes. The population of marine fishermen is \nabout 4.64 lakhs, out of which about 1 lakh marine fishermen \nare actively engaged in the fishing profession. At present \nthere are 2432 wooden mechanised boats and 82 FRP \nboats engaged in fishing oft' Tamil Nadu coast. In addition, \n985 catamarans have been fitted with outboard \nmotors and 802 country canoes with inboard engines. As \nfar as non-mechanised boats are concerned there are 28,132 \ncatamarans and 8439 country craft operating in Tamil Nadu.