Studies on the fishery and biology of the lizardfish, Saurida spp. from the Karnataka coast

India possesses a long coastline of 7,517 kin bordering the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the oceanic islands of Lakshadweep and Andaman Nicobar. The continental shelf area between 0 and 200 m depth is estimated at about 0.5 million km2 and the total area of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as 2.02 million km2 . The fishery resources in these seas are rich, diverse and typical of tropical waters. The marine fishing activities prior to independence were, however, only at a subsistence level with a low quantum of production. Concerted efforts for the development of the marine fisheries of the country were initiated after the country became independent in 1947. Through the various programmes relating to ..introduction of mechanised fishing vessels, improvement of fiShing~lements, establishment of infrastructural facilities for preservation, processing, storage, transportation and for landing and berthing of crafts, and the development of an export trade - implemented during different national schemes, the marine fisheries of the country expanded rapidly, playing a major role in supplying protein food, earning foreign exchange and promoting coastal rural development. The marine fish production of the country consequent upon these developmental programmes, increased gradually from 0.534 million tonnes in 1951 to the present yield level of2.3 million tonnes, contributing to over 1.5% of the total income from agricultural sector and earning Rs. 1767 crores from the export trade of fish and fishery products