Marine Fisheries of Odisha (An Overview)

Dash, Gyanaranjan and Pradhan, Rajesh Kumar and Dash, Swatipriyanka Sen and Jayasankar, J and Mini, K G and Das, Prakash Chandra and Das, Menaka and Kizhakudan, Joe K (2025) Marine Fisheries of Odisha (An Overview). ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Puri.

Text CMFRI Pamphlet Series No. 164_2025_Gyanranjan Dash.pdf Download (25MB)

Abstract

Odisha, with a coastline of 575 km and a continental shelf area of approximately 24,000 square km, spread across six coastal districts (Balasore, Bhadrak, Kebdrapara, Jag-atsinghpur, Puri and Ganjam), holds significant marine fisheries potential. The heavy nutrient influx from six major river systems like Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha, and Rushikulya makes it one of the highly productive and biodiversity rich marine ecosystem that support a wide variety of fishery resources. Apart from this the coastal zone of Odisha encompasses Asia's largest brackish water lake (Chilika lagoon), India's second-largest mangrove forest Bhitrar-kanika), and also the world's most significant rookery of Olive Ridley (Gahirmatha). With only about 5% of India's coastline and land area, Odisha harbors nearly 14% of the marine fisherfolk of India (about 5.2 lakh), which are spread across 739 marine fishing villages, which is also the highest in India. Nearly about 1.2 lakh active fisher-men and 0.75 lakh fisheries allied workers earn their livelihood directly from the marine fisheries sector of Odisha. Marine fisheries play a vital role in the food security, employment generation, and economic growth of the coastal communities of Odisha.

Actions (login required)

View Item