Status Of Shark Fisheries in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone Regional Consultation on Preparation of Management Plan for Shark Fisheries

Of the 47 species of sharks that occur in the Indian Seas, six species contribute to major fisheries. During 1985-2006, the annual shark landings in India was 36 021 tonnes. The contribution of sharks to the total fish landings declined from 2.2 percent in 1985 to 1.0 percent in 2006. The northwest coast, which contributed 57.4 percent to the shark landings along the Indian coast, consisted mostly of the small-sized spadenose shark, Scoliodon laticaudus. The southeast coast, which contributed 25.0 percent to the shark landings, consisted of larger and high-value carcharhinids. In the last few years, the fishery is shifting from artisanal coastal fishery towards oceanic fishery by employing drift gillnets and hooks & line operated from mechanized craft. The trawls, gillnets and hooks & lines contribute about 95 percent to the shark landings. The potential yield of sharks in the continental shelf of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone has been estimated as 45 064 tonnes, and the pelagic sharks beyond the continental shelf as 26 200 tonnes. Exploratory surveys for oceanic shark resources indicated good hooking rates. The life of sharks is characterized by slow growth, late maturation, and production of a few, but well-developed young ones. The disadvantageous biological characteristics make sharks highly vulnerable to overfishing. During 1998-2005, an annual average of 853.7 tonnes of shark products valued at 5.9 million US $ were exported. It is estimated that 15 - 20 000 fishers are engaged exclusively in shark fishing in India. Three species of sharks, Carcharhinus hemiodon, Glyphis gangeticus, G. glyphis and Rhiniodon typus are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972. Target fishing for sharks call for proper planning and implementation of measures for sustaining the stocks without affecting the livelihoods of the dependent fishers