The present status of small-scale traditional fishery at Vizhinjam

Vizhinjam, situated at long. 76°59'15"e, lat. 8°22'30", and 16 km south of trivandrum, is an important \nFish landing centre among the twenty-seven fish landing villages in the fishery zone extending from \nKollangode in the south to valiaveli in the north, spanning a distance of about 50 km on the south-west \nCoast of india. Owing to its location which affords facilities for putting the boats out to the sea even in \nThe monsoon season, as well as due to good marketing outlets at nearby places such as balaramapuram, \nTrivandrum and adjacent towns, fishing activity takes place in the vizhinjam area all through the year. With the completion of the vizhinjam fishing harbour which is underway, the fisheries importance of this area is bound to increase further. Vizhinjam is thus at the threshold of modernization and expansion of its fishing activities, particularly with reference to exploitation of the deepsea fishery resources. An account of the present status of the traditional fishery of the vizhinjam area \nIs therefore timely.