Dried tuna for export as a small scale industry in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) formed an average 33.5% of the total tuna catch of Andhra Pradesh, during the past decade. Fishing grounds for yellowfin tuna off northern Andhra Pradesh at depths of 200 m and more are gainfully exploited by the local fishers since 2002 using motorized crafts (theppas) with hooks and lines and trolls. Since 2006 a few mechanized trawlers were also converted to long liners for catching tunas