Socio-economics. In: Indian fisheries 1947 - 1977

Total fisher population of India in 1972 was 55,83,400, representing about one per cent of the total population of the country. Along the coastline live 32,81,500 fisher folk, and others on the banks of the rivers, lakes, and backwaters. About one million fishermen are actively engaged in the sea fishing. Besides fishing, fishermen also carry out other avocations such as ferrying and water transport, sea faring and salt making