The annual small pelagic fish production increased from 0.30 million
mt during 1950-54 to 1.24 million mt during 1996 along the Indian coast.
The 4 fold increase was possible due to several technological
advancements. The potenrial yield from the pelagic resources of the EEZ is
estimated to be 2.2 million mt. As there is no further scope for increasing
the production from the inshore waters, there is need to bring the outer
shelf and oceanic waters into increasing levels of exploitation