Status of marine fish stock assessment in India and development of a sustainability index

India has a coastline of 8129 km. Landings by commercial fishing vessels takes place at 1332 centres during day and night by 58,911 mechanized craft, 75,591 motorized (with outboard engine) and 104,270 traditional craft (CMFRI, 2006). Marine fisheries are an important source of food, employment and foreign exchange. About one million people work directly in this sector, producing 3 million tonnes annually valued at about 3 billion US $ at production level (CMFRI, 2007). India earns 1.6 billion US $ by exporting fish and fishery products. India is among the top ten fish producing countries of the world, contributing 3.5% to the total world marine fish production. Concerned about the status of marine fish stocks in the Indian EEZ, the country has put in place appropriate institutional mechanisms to monitor and forecast fishery yields for the last 25 year