Gujarat with about 20% (1600 km) of the country’s coastline, 33% of the continental
shelf area (1,64,000 sq. km) and over 2,00,000 sq. km of EEZ ranks second among the maritime
states in marine fish production. The marine fish production in the state has shown a declining
trend from 2002 (4.68 lakh tons) to 2005 (3.56 lakh tons) with promising increase by 42.7 % to
5.08 lakh tons during 2006. There is a conspicuous change in the resource composition over the
years with quality fishes like pomfrets, larger sciaenids, threadfins and penaeid prawns being
replaced by low value fishes such as ribbonfishes, threadfin breams, carangids, nonpenaeid prawns
and smaller crabs. During the five year period, pelagic resources contributed (40%), followed by
the demersal resources (30%), crustacean resources (22%) and cephalopod resources (8%). Among
the pelagic resources, the contribution of Bombay duck Harpadon nehereus (Synodontidae)
decreased from 34.8% in 2003 to 24.6% in 2006, while the contribution of Trichiurus lepturus
(Trichiuridae) increased from 33.5% in 2003 to 46.6% in 2006. The demersal resources were
dominated by croakers (30%) and the crustacean resources by non-penaeid prawns (60%). The
substantial component of the catches was landed by trawlers (59%), followed by dolnetters (26%)
and gillnetters (14%). The last quarter (46%) recorded the highest landings with the poor catches
in the second (14%) and third quarters (15%). There was a distinct change in species composition
of sciaenids caught by dolnetters over the years with smaller sciaenids (Otolithes cuvieri,
Sciaenidae and Johnius glaucus, Sciaenidae) completely replacing commercially important larger
sciaenids like koth (Otolithoides biauritus, Sciaenidae) and ghol (Protonibea diacanthus,
Sciaenidae). The mean length for Harpadon nehereus increased from 159 mm in 2003 to 216
mm in 2006, whereas for Otolithes cuvieri and Nemipterus japonicus (Nemipteridae) the mean
length decreased from 202 mm and 223 mm in 2003 to 163 mm and 193 mm in 2005. The
emergence of mackerel fishery in 2006 coupled with increased landings of high export value
cephalopods and tunas provide scope for the sustenance of marine fishery of Gujarat. Strategies
for sustainable responsible fisheries are outlined
