Artisanal Fishery for Prawns at Uppada near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh coast

Uppada (Lat. 17° 6' N, Long 82° 23' E) is an important marine fish landing centre of Kakinada region where prawns form about 4% to 95% in thetotal fish landings. Twenty three species of penaeid prawns and 4 species of non-penaeid prawns contribute to the prawn fishery of which 10 species of penaeid prawns and 3 species of non-penaeid prawns form regular fishery, throughout the year. Data on prawn catches at Uppada collected for aperiod of 5 years from 1979 to 1983 show that an average 501.5 t of piawns are landed per annum at this centre, accounting for 24.1 % of the total fish landings. Penaeid prawns formed 82.4% in total prawn landings and 19.8% in total fish landings.