Fishery Sector Development in Maharashtra : Issues, Strategies and Policy Implications

In order to develop fisheries sector in Maharashtra, there is need to educate fishermen with respect to dissemination of information relating to modern/mechanized fishing techniques and efficient marketing of fish catch. Equally important is the need for more innovative technologies in this sector, diffusion of developed technology by extension workers and adoption by the clients. Education of fishermen about modern fishing techniques is reported to have a significant impact on adoption of recommended fish culture practices by the farmers. It is also pointed out that extension and mass media participation have strong positive relationship with adoption of fish culture practices. Nonetheless, inadequate infrastructure and flow of information technology have been cited as the major barriers for better market integration in the existing marine fish markets of India. As for the overall development of fisheries sector of India, it is to be noted that since the target of fish production of 5.6 lakhs tons for 2003-04 was lower than the target of 6.3 lakhs tons for 2002-03, measures need to be taken to increase production of both marine and inland capture fisheries from reservoirs, etc. and culture fisheries to increase the overall fish production. There is also scope for exploitation of off-shore and deep sea fishery resources through introduction of newly designed fuel saving multi-day mechanized fishing vessels and deep sea fishing vessels. The need for the multi-day mechanized fishing vessels as well as the deep sea vessels is also felt in the state of Maharashtra