Conservation of Fisheries Resources in India - Economic and livelihood Issues

Abstract

Fish is the main animal protein source for over one billion people and it provides livelihood for over 200 million people world wide and 90 percent of these people are from developing countries. The world's marine catch has increased more than four times in the past 40 years, from 18.5 million t in 1950 to 141.6 million t in 2008 (FAO, 2009). There is a massive over capacity in the global fishing fleet. The build up of fishing fleets, deployment of powerful fishing technologies, increasing pollution and habitat loss has depleted fish stocks world wide. Even with advancement in fishing technology and increased fishing effort, the productivity has declined.