Small-scale pole and line tuna fishery in Lakshadweep - present trend, constraints and strategies for future developments

The mainstay of the tuna fishery of the Lakshadweep Islands is the small - scale pole and line fishery. Scientific estimates of potential resources of tunas in the Lakshadweep Sea, based mainly on the primary production and catch statistics indicate that they vary between 50,000 tonnes and 1,00,000 tonnes, and resource availability is not a constraint in the development of tuna fishery in this area. Present trends show that the pole and line fishery is concentrated mainly at Agatti, Bangaram, Perumal Par Reef, Minicoy, Suheli Par and Bitra islands of Lakshadweep. Some of the main constraints and strategies for further management and development are also discussed