The present status and future prospects of elasmobranch fishery in India

An increasing trend in the annual catch of elasmobranch fishery from 35.6 thousand tonnes during sixties to 53.9 thousand tonnes during seventies and 59.6 thousand tonnes during the current decade (upto 1985) was observed. This increase is mainly due to the large scale mechanisation of the fishery during the seventies. At present, though 6 5% of the resources is from the west coast, Tamilnadu ranks first contributing 25% of the all India catches. The optimum levels of effort to get the MSY for sharks and rays using the Schafler model at selected centres have been worked out and presented. The study has indicated that there is scope for increasing the trawling effort at Visakapatnam, Mandapam and Rameswaram whereas reduction of trawling effort is suggested for Madras, Kakinada, Tuticorin, Calicut and Bombay. The MSY worked out for the gill net at Cuddalore suggested the advisability of increasing the effort whereas a reduction of the effort is indicated for Calicu