The extent of coastal rural indebtedness in the marine fisheries sector is quite observable throughout the Indian coastal belts. The Micro Finance Institutions (MFI)/Self Help Groups (SHG) mobilised in marine fisheries sector do play a vital role in reducing the vicious circle of indebtedness among marine fisherfolk. An exact assessment on the indebtedness level has not so far been attempted among marine fisherfolk. The extent and quantum of indebtedness at a reasonable level of interest sourced out from the organised sector is an indicator of development since availability of finances boosts up the economic activity and capital formation in a region. The extent of indebtedness and the average outstanding debt per indebted households are comparatively less among fishermen as per the figures of institutional sources, but the affairs of the fisherfolk is really grim as they are virtually gripped in the hands of non-institutional agencies, namely the money lenders and traders for which legitimate data sources do not exist. Fisherfolk are attracted to the non-institutional agencies on account of simple procedures and timeliness in availing finance and for operational expenses which ultimately make them suffer from debt trap and vicious circle of indebtedness
