India's marine fish landing has showed a decline of five per cent in 2014, compared to 3.78 million in 2013, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) said here today.
However, the value of marine fish landings during 2014, based on the price at landing centre level was Rs 31,754 crore, an increase of 8.1 per cent over 2013.
At the retail level, the estimate valued was Rs 52,363 crore, an increase of of 12.1 per cent, according to the data released by CMFRI.
The estimates show an alarming decline of hilsa shad, highly valued fish in West Bengal, from 40,000 tonnes in 2013 to 3,000 tonnes in 2014.
"India's marine fish landings (excluding Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands) in 2014 amounts to 3.59 million tonnes. It is a decline of five per cent compared to 3.78 million landed in 2013," says the data released CMFRI Director A Gopalakrishnan at a press conference.
Of the nine maritime states and two union territories on the Indian coast, Gujarat ranked first with landings (in lakh tonnes) of 7.12 (19.8 pc), Tamil Nadu with 6.65 (18.5 pc), Kerala 5.76 (16 pc), Karnataka 4. 74 (13.19 pc), Maharashtra 3.45 (9.59 pc), Andhra Pradesh 3.42 (9.51 pc), Goa 1.53 (4.26 pc), Odisha 1.39 (3.86 pc), West Bengal 0.77 (2.13 pc), Puducherry 0.65 (1.82 pc) and Daman and Diu 0.46 (1. 28 pc).
"Landings from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Odisha increased from that in 2013 whereas landings from Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Daman and Diu decreased," it said.
Addressing the media, CMFRI scientists said though the decrease in landings is not an alarming situation, it emphasised the need to strengthen the "management exercise" of marine fisheries sector.
Gopalakrishnan said over exploitation and damage of ecosystem of rivers are the major reasons for decline of hilsa fish commonly found in the seas of Bangladesh and West Bengal.
Rivers are the breeding ground for hilsa shad.
