The fishery potential of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The shallow coastal belt with its numerous creeks and bays and the deep sea around Andaman and Nicobar Islands afford opportunities for commercial exploitation of a variety of economically important fishes. Fishing by indigenous craft and gear is confined at present mainly to the narrow coastal belt of the eastern coast of Andamans and neighboring islands. The oceanic waters around are rich in tunas and bill fishes which are not exploited at present. The fishery potential of the sea around Andaman and Nicobar Islands is estimated from available information and scope for development is discussed