Technological options in the traditional marine fisheries sector and impact of motorization on the economics of gillnet fishing along Tuticorin coast, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Cost minimisation and profit maximisation are the twin interrelated objectives which influence the decision making of the investor on choices of techniques to be adopted for any production process. In marine fisheries the extensive adoption of fishing methods like mechanised trawling, shifting of cotton into synthetic nets, motorization of country crafts and innovative processing and preservation techniques in fish marketing are very much guided by the profit motive of individual fishermen. Capital being a scarce resource to many of the fishermen the choice of their fishing techniques at times drifts towards labour intensive devices.