Journal of Fisheries and Life Sciences

Author(s): Balaji Guguloth, Nagoor Meeran, P. Anand Prasad, N.V. Sujathkumar and B. Sundaramoorthy

Abstract: Marine capture fisheries have crucial contributions to the world’s well-being and prosperity. In the last five decades, world fish food supply has outpaced global population growth and today fish constitutes an important source of nutritious food and animal protein for much of the world population. Technology from its pristine form to its highest and sophisticated materials is the guiding light of human civilization. Nearly three-fourths (72.50%) of the fishermen belonged to young to middle age groups, most of the respondents had little/poor levels of education, a greater part of the respondents had more than 20 years of experience in fishing. For a majority of the respondents, fishing was the only occupation. Above average was involved in10-15 hrs of fishing on each fishing day. Among all seasons, the most productive fishing season is October to December. The majority of the respondents got an average daily fish catch in excess of 300 kg. Bulks of the respondents were going for fishing in the range of 20-60 Nm. A more than average of the respondents doing fishing in the depth range of 80-120 m. Most of the respondents needed information on navigation and sea safety measures, potential fishing zone, the daily report on weather condition of the sea, responsible fishing, endangered species, maintenance of crafts against fouling organisms to undertake fishing in a safe and sustainable manner and market information on catch arrivals. Improving the fishing activities, need-based information related to effective harvesting and post-harvest technologies, market intelligence, and conservation of resources should be disseminated to the fisher-folk through these Radios, TV and mobile tools.