Fisheries of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Abstract

A brief description of the fisheries of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is presented. This stretch of 585 islands, islets and rocks in the northeast Indian Ocean has sovereign rights to a sea area of nearly 600,000 sq/km. Annual landings have increased from 44 tons in 1950 to 3,850 tons in 1982. The main methods of capture are gill-nets, hook and line and seine nets. Of 700 recorded species, 200 are classified as of economic importance. The main pelagic resources are sardines, carangids, and mackerels followed by anchovies and scombrids. The main demersal resources are percoids and silver bellies.