Development of Ports and its Impact on Marine Fish Production: A Critical Study of Gujarat State (India)

Gujarat, a major maritime state, has 20 percent coastline and accounts for 10 per cent of fish production of India. Recently, the government of Gujarat has placed a special emphasis on the development of ports with an objective to explore the opportunities of trade through the ports. The government plans to develop around 41 ports in the state wherein 12 are almost operational. Looking to this development many private players have shown interest in port development under Publicprivate partnership model. These developments are on the commercial lines of trade negating the living resources of sea. Moreover, this is also adversely affecting the natural habitat of fishery, resulting in depletion of production and degradation of species. In this process, the fishermen community of the state are worst affected. Based on the primary and secondary survey in and around two ports of Veraval and Porbandar the study finds that fishermen are facing difficulties to sustain the fish production and commercial species of fish for their survival. Now, they need to enter deep into the sea for fishing which has increased the cost of fishing operation. In the end, comparing the two ports the study gives suggestions for the sustainable development of ports and fisheries