Trends in overall marine fishery growth

The trends in the marine fish catch along Goa clearly show that the total production has followed the trend of pelagic fish production. The trend in fish production of Goa can be divided into 3 clear phases namely

1)1985-1995

2) 1996-2001

3) 2002- 2012.

The average catch and percentage contribution of different groups of resources during the three phases have shown in table 1-2.

 

First phase

The first phase from 1985-1995 is characterized by ‘M’ shape trend with two significant ups and downs in the fishery which terminated towards the lower side at the end of the phase. The average pelagic and crustacean catch was found to be high in comparison with others in the first phase. Their proportion in the total catch was also significant in this phase

 

Second phase

The second phase from 1996-2001 is characterized by the significant decline in pelagic and crustacean resource catch which trimmed the average total catch from 75773 t in the first phase to 52154 t in the second phase. The molluscan resource has shown a marked increase from an average catch of 1330 t in the first phase to 2193 t in the second phase which has also reflected in their percentage contribution.

 

Third phase

The third phase has really shown signs of improvement in the fishery triggered by the hike in pelagic fish production. The average contribution of pelagic group in this phase has risen to 79.2% in comparison with 66.6% in the second phase. The average pelagic catch was doubled in this phase in comparison with the previous phase.

Crustacean and molluscan resources followed a continuous decline in this phase while the average demersal catch increased to 11717 t from 8345 t in the second phase. The revival of the fishery was only due to the increase in pelagic catch which may be attributed to the full-fledged operation of purse-seiners along the Goan coast. The purse seines contributed to 82% of the total catch in Goa during 2012. Though the demersal fishery resources have shown a high average catch in the third phase, the quality and quantity of the catch were decreasing in the recent past.

Figure 1. The comparison of trend in Pelagic, demersal and total fish production in Goa

 

Figure 2. Average fish catch during the three phases along Goa

Table 1. Resource wise Average fish catch (t) in Goa during the three phases.

 

Table 2.Resource wise average percentage contribution to the total catch in Goa during the three phases.

 

 

Source-

• Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Ela, Old Goa, Goa