A consistent increase was observed in carangid production with minor fluctuations from a nominal
24,560 tin 1969 to 1,36,094 t in 2004 with a peak p!'oduction of 1,96,832 t in 1995. Carangids were the third
major pelagic resource constituting 5.5% of the total all India fish production next only to mackerel and oil
sardine. The average annual catch of carangid was 1771.2, 4940.5, 922.6, 4199.5, and 1856.5 t at Veraval,
Mangalore, Kochi, Tuticorin and Kakinada respectively. The small-mechanised trawl is the most effective
gear in exploiting the carangids along both the coasts
