Exploited and potential capture fishery resources in the inshore waters of India

India has a coastline of about 6100 km with nearly 2000 fishing villages along the coast. The marine fish caught from the inshore waters by indigenous as well as mechanised vessels are landed during almost all hours of the day and often at night round the year at about 1 400 fish landing centres. About one million active fish ermen use indigenous crafts and gears in the traditional fisheries. This sector contributes to about 65 per cent of the total marine fish production of the country. The pelagic as well as mid-water fish catches are almost entirely landed by the traditional fishery