An appraisal of the marine fishery resources of Visakhapatnam coast

Located along the east coast of India, between 17 deg 15' N and 17 deg 55' N Latitudes (Fig. 1), the Visakhapatnam coast (bordering the district of Visakhapatnam) has a special pl;;tce in the marine fisheries map of India being the nucieus of d.eep sea trawling activities and various other mechanised and non-mechanised gear operations. The range of gear operated varies from the tiny .catamarans to the modern shrimp trawlers with all the gadgets of navigation and fishing. With a number of fish landing centres dotted along the 130 km coastline, about 19,7351 of fish are harvested annually from the waters of this coast. Apart from this, about 130 large trawlers, 60 mini-trawlers and 100 'sana' boats fishing along the Orissa and West Bengal coasts land their catches at Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour