Is the operational dynamics of artisanal fishing fleet dawdling? A comprehensive study of palk bay, India

Abstract

Marine fish resources off Indian shores have been displaying thorough heterogeneity over the years. The catch rates have propelled high during post-independence period and the country experienced tremendous growth in fish production. Technological changes have spurred fish production and exports. Alongside fisheries development, few negative externalities occurred, threatening the long term sustenance of the artisanal sector and the overall fishery resources. Hence, a study was attempted to understand the various sociological, spatial and temporal factors that play a key role in artisanal fishing operations and further to the resultant productivity. Additionally, fishers’ compliance towards existing fisheries rules and regulations was also perceived to suggest suitable fisheries management measures. The study was carried out at Ramanathapuram and Pudhukottai districts of Palk Bay. The economic and technical efficiency of the crafts were studied exclusively for traditional and motorized crafts employing costs and returns procedure and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach respectively. Traditional boats have registered the highest profit margin of 45.61% and least payback period of 0.58 years. Yet, the motorized fishing crafts seem to operate with a mean technical efficiency of 0.85, much higher than that of traditional crafts (0.58).