Spatial and temporal differences in the coastal fisheries along the east coast of India

Abstract

Annual average fish landings along the east coast of Indian increased from 0.15 million tonnes during 1950-59 to 0.85m t during 2006-06. The contribution of the northeast coast to the total landings along the east coast of India increased from 5.5% to 30.7% in the last five decades. There were remarkable differences in the catch composition between the NE and southeast (SE) coasts. Among the small pelagics, for instance, the hilsa shad Tenualosa ilisha and bombayduck Harpadon nehereus were dominant along the NE coast.