Introduction

Abstract

The Union Territory of Lakshadweep, consisting of several inhabited and uninhabited islands, lie between 08°00'N and 12°30'N latitudes and 7r00'E and 74°C0'E longitudes. The remoteness of the island territory from the mainland has forced the inhabitants to live in isolation amidst injustice, poverty, ignorance and ill health. Coconut and tuna formed the mainstay of the economy of the islanders. The lagoons and the surrounding waters are replete with a wide variety of flora and fauna. The tunas and the food fishes were being exploited ever since human settlement. The islands became a Union Territory of India in 1956. Since then there has been rapid progress especially in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, education, health etc. Next in importance to agriculture, the fisheries sector, plays an important role in the economy of the islands.