Four stages in the trend of utilisation of tuna fishery resources of Indian EEZ in the
recent past and as at present have been identified. The first stage was one of transition
from surveys to commercial fishing, through introduction of three used Japanese
tuna vessels. The commercial fishing activities of these vessels were disappointing.
The second stage consisted of introduction of a commercial tuna purse
seiner by an Indian company and also introduction of foreign longUners (Taiwanese)
by Indian companies under charter, lease or joint venture conditions
