Achivements of Porbandar Zonal Base:

Survey of the fishery resources of the Gujarat coast was started in the year 1949 by the Government of India vessels by carrying out bottom trawling and bull trawling. Later in 1950-51, Japanese vessels also conducted bull trawling. All these surveys have indicated that Dwarka, Kutch, Porbandar, Cambay, Veraval all are highly productive grounds for fishes like ghol, karkara, eel, sciaenids, catfishes and shrimps subsequent surveys conducted by FSI employing different classes of vessels from sixties along the Gujarat coast highlighted the availability and abundance of fish resources of the region. Bottom trawling, purse-seining, mid-water trawling, pelagic trawling and tuna longlining are the fishing methods employed by FSI vessels. Apart from these surveys by chartered foreign tuna longliners and the tuna vessels indicate that Yellowfin tuna form about 75% of the total catch with 1.88 tonnes of average catch per fishing day during 1985-1990.
A recent estimate on the marine potential along Gujarat coast (Lat. 20^oN and above) by FSI shows a total Biomass of 4.4 lakh tonnes of demersal stocks in 0-300m depth of which about 67% is in the inshore waters upto 50m depth, 26% in 50-100m depth, 6.5% in 100-200m depth. 

Demersal Resources

It is observed that within 50m depth sciaenids, ribbonfish, elasmobranches, catfishes, perches and pomfrets are the principal components whereas in 50-100m depth zone ribbonfish, sciaenids, threadfin breams, horse mackerel and bulls eye will be the main contributors. In the areas beyond 100m depth, the major components are ribbon fishes, threadfin bream, horse mackerel, bulls eye, scad, etc. 

Shrimp Resources

Current shrimp production (1994) from Gujarat coast is 55732 tonnes including 53,210 tonnes penaeid and 1822 tonnes non-penaeid shrimps. Interestingly, the production of penaeid shrimps along Gujarat coast is on increase.

Cephalopod Resources

Based on the results of demersal trawl survey and the landing statistics, MSY for this resource is estimated as 26,600 tonnes from Gujarat coast. Current production of cephalopods is 25199 tonnes.

Additional Harvestable Yield

Considering the MSY estimates and the current production (1990-92) an additional yield of 1,62,900 tonnes of fish can be harvested annually from the continental shelf and slope along Gujarat coast. The demersal resources contribution will be 1,11,400 tonnes and pelagic resources to be 51,500 tonnes.

Findings of the Survey

Some important findings of the survey conducted by the base include location of potential sea fish resources off Mumbai in the depth range of 50-100M, location of Potential Thread fin bream resources (Rani fish) off Maharashtra and Gujarat coast in the depth range of 100-200M, horse mackerel resources beyond the conventional operational limit of mechanized boats in sizeable quantities; location of potential cuttle fish resources off Gujarat coast in the depth range 30-50M; deep sea prawn resources in the continental shelf edge and slope off Gujarat and location of potential oceanic/pelagic resources like Yellow in tuna. Bill fishes and Pelagic Sharks off Maharashtra and Gujarat coast. 

Fishery Resources of Gujarat

The annual potential yield of marine fishery resources of Gujarat State estimated by Fishery Survey of India is 7.03 lakh tonnes comprising of demersal, 4.55 lakh tonnes and Pelagic 2.48 lakh tonnes. The current production is 6.2 lakh tonnes. Ghol, Sciaenids, Perches, Catfish, Prawns and Elasmobranchs are abundant in Kutch, Porbandar and Dwarka regions. Other important resources of this Coast are Bombay duck, Ribbon fishes, Seer fishes, Perches, Polynemids, Clupeids, Sharks, Yellow Fin tuna, Marlins, Swordfish, Sailfish, Lobsters, Squid & Cuttle fishes.

Tuna Long Line Survey 

Tuna long line survey results indicates that pelagic sharks dominated the catches with an average hooking rate of 0.35% followed by Yellow Fin Tuna 0.33%, Sailfish 0.27%, Skipjack tuna 0.17%, Marlin 0.04%, Sword fish 0.03% and other oceanic resources 0.04%.
Latitude wise survey results shows that highest hooking rate of Yellow Fin tuna was recorded in the Lat. 22^oN (0.75%) followed by 0.60% in Lat. 21^oN. Skipjack tuna recorded highest Hooking Rate in the 16^oN (0.43%) and sail fish in the 22^oN (0.46%) followed 16^oN (0.44%). Highest hooking rate of 0.45% pelagic sharks were recorded in the 16^oN followed by 0.43% in the 15^oN.

Mumbai Base Office

  Phone   : 022-22181760
  Fax No.: 022-22160729

  E-mail   : mtnlmumbaibase@mtnl.net.in
 

Important findings of survey:

1. The exploratory survey by small wooden mechanical boats during fifties was limited to territorial waters, covering depth zone of upto 60m by deploying mainly demersal stern trawling using Fishing Gears of size varying from 12 to 20M.

2. Gill nets of various types, were also operated by these vessels.

3. Off Mumbai coast, these vessels had located good trawling ground upto 60m depth zone where existence of Ribbonfish, Catfish, Bombay duck, Sciaenids, Polynemids, Pomfrets, Seer fishes, Squids, Cuttle fish & Shrimps were recorded abundantly.
   

1. Subsequently 20 identical steel stern trawlers of 17.5M OAL had been added to the fishing fleets. The vessel Meena Bharati and two 17.5M vessels have done the commendable work of surveying the area of Maharashtra - Gujarat coast upto 75-80m depth zone.

2. The fishery resources like Nemipterids, Sciaenids, Polynemids,Eels, Perches, Mackerels, Ribbonfish, Catfish, Cephalopods, Pomfrets, Seer fish and Shrimps were abundant during the survey.

1. Location of potential seer fish resources off Mumbai in the depth range of 50-100m
2. Location of potential thread fin bream resources (Rani fish) between Maharashtra and Gujarat coast in the depth range of 100-200m.
3. Horse mackerel resources beyond conventional operational limit of mechanized boats in sizable quantities.
4. Existence of other deep sea resources like Priacanthids (Bulls eye), Drift fish and Scad between 50 and 100m depth in large quantities.
5. Location of potential of Cuttle fish resources South of Mahrashtra and Off Gujarat coast.
6. Location of Ribbon fish resources off Gujarat coast in the depth range of 30-70m
7. Resources of Deep Sea Shrimps in the continental shelf edge and slope of Gujarat coast.

Goa Base Office

Mormugao Zonal Base of Fishery Survey of India was established in the year 1986 by amalgamating the erstwhile Mangalore Base and Goa Base, as a part of restructuring the organization. Three survey vessels viz. Matsya Shakti & Matsya Vishwa and are currently stationed at this Base. The survey vessels conducts regular demersal trawl resources survey cruises along Karnataka Konkan and South Maharashtra Coast (between latitude 10oN and 18oN) and collected detailed information on the distribution abundance of fishery resources of the above regions both in time and space. A wealth of information was gathered during the oceanic resources survey conducted by M.F.V. Blue Marlin in the oceanic region of the areas between latitude 14o N and 23o N during the period 1989-91.
Some of the important findings of the survey conducted by the Base are:

•  Location of potential Threadfin bream resources (Rani Fish) between Tadri and Ratnagiri   in the depth range 100 - 150m.

• Perch resources all along Karnataka - Konkan coast between 70 - 150 m depth.

• Deep sea cuttle fish resources between Mangalore and Karwar in depth range 60-140 M.

• Squid resources beyond the conventional operational limit of mechanized boats in sizeable quantitites.

• Deep sea prawn and lobster resources in the continental shelf edge and slope off Dakshini Kannada region.

• Location of other deep sea resources like Priacanthids (Bulls eye) Black ruff, Drift fish and Scad beyond 50 m depth in large quantities.

• Location of potential oceanic pelagic resources like Yellow fin tuna, Bill fishes and Pelagic Sharks off Karwar, Goa and Ratnagiri.
  

The Cochin Zonal Base of Fishery Survey of India (formerly Offshore Fishing Station, Cochin) is the oldest Base of Fishery Survey of India having been established during 1957. The base has a chequered history of operating a wide variety of small, medium and large vessels for the survey of pelagic, demersal and oceanic marine fishery resources along Kerala Coast and adjacent waters. 

Important achievements :

• Cochin Zonal Base was the fore-runner to introduce tuna long lining, squid jigging etc. 

• The smaller wooden vessels viz. Tarpon, Samudra, Durga and Flying fish (10.1 to 10.9m OAL) surveyed the shrimp grounds in the waters off Cochin from 1959 to 1972 by deploying shrimp trawls and recorded high percentage of prawns (28%) within the 20m depth. 

• Besides popularization of shrimp fishing, the medium sized vessels (15.6 to 25.4m OAL) namely Bangada and Pratap conducted bottom trawling for demersal fishery resources from 1957 to 1969 in the areas off Kerala coast and located rich grounds for Nemipterids, elasmobranches, cat fish, etc.

• The exploratory survey conducted by Matsya Sugundhi during 1983-1988 for tunas and allied resources by long lining indicated that the highest hooking rate for tunas was in the areas around "Basses de Pedro" Bank and peak productive season was found to be from January to February. Matsya Sugundhi also conducted squid jigging operations during 1988-89 in the areas off Kerala coast and observed sizeable concentration of squid shoals.

• In addition to demersal fishery resources survey, the survey vessel Matsya Varshini attempted purse seining for pelagic resources along the coast and observed that coastal tunas and mackerel constituted the major components. Other pelagic resources namely sardines and carangids were also recorded upto 60m depth during 1984-89

• The base has been continuously imparting in-vessel training to the cadets who have successfully completed their institutional training being provided by CIFNET. After acquisition of required sea service, the trainees are qualified as Mates, Skippers, Engine Drivers and Engineers and their services are utilized by the fishing industry for manning the ocean going vessels.

• The Base had actively participated in the joint experiment programme taken up with Space Application Centre on application of remote sensing techniques in marine fisheries. The survey vessels of this base took part in that experiments and collected valuable sea truth data along Kerala coast.

• The base renders free technical consultancy services to individual fishermen, entrepreneurs and fishing industry on all matters pertaining to deepsea fishing.
  

Development of Marine Fisheries in the state of Tamil Nadu is closely linked with the establishment of Offshore Fishing Station at Tuticorin and Madras during 1958 and 1972 respectively. Subsequently the above stations were renamed as Exploratory Fisheries Project, Tuticorin and Madras Base respectively during 1974. During 1986 the Chennai Zonal Base of Fishery Survey of India was established as part of the reorganization of the Institution.
With the establishment of Chennai Zonal Base of Fishery Survey of India during 1983 the systematic survey and stock assessment of Marine Fisheries Resources of Coromandel coast was taken up and 3 vessels viz. Matsya Harini (OAL 32 m.) a combination long liner cum purse seiner, Matsya Jeevan (36.5M OAL) combination Trawler were placed at this Base. The long liner Yellow Fin (36 mtr) was placed at Chennai Base of Fishery Survey of India during 1989 for the survey of oceanic resources of East coast of India. Very recently another stern trawler M.F.V. Samudrika (28M OAL) was also placed at this base.

Important contributions of this base are:

• The erstwhile Tuticorin base has done pioneering work in the development of marine fishery in the Gulf of Mannar and Wadge Bank region and popularized the mechanized and deep sea fishing.

• A number of fishing gear suitable for operation from small mechanized trawlers have been developed and popularized.

• Potential fishing grounds for fin fish resources like Perches, Leiognathids, Nemipterids, Barracuda etc. were located in Gulf of Mannar, Wadge Bank and Coramandal coast.

• Rich yellowfin tuna fishing grounds were located all along lower east coast besides pelagic shark resources.

• Bottom set vertical longline fishing gear developed and the suitability of the gear for the exploration of groupers and snappers was established.

• Potential deep sea shrimp grounds are located all along lower east coast especially off Karikkal, Nagapattanam, Point Calimer, Ramyapatnam in the depth 200-400m. Besides, the operation of Matsya Nireekshani in the Gulf of Mannar region revealed existence of potential grounds for deep sea shrimps and lobster resource in the region.

• Based on the operation of smaller wooden crafts and mechanized vessels Joseph et al., (1976) estimated a potential yield of 74539 mt from the lower east coast and Joseph (1980) estimated a potential yield of 2,31,300 ton from the area between Lat. 8oN and 15oN upto 73m depth) based on the operation 17.5m vessels.

• Based on the survey carried out the potential yield of demersal resources of Coromandel coast (10o-15o) is estimated at 79761 tons. Wadge Bank and Gulf of Mannar region at 83700 tons and Palk Bay at 42700 tons (Sivaprakasam 1991). The potential pelagic resources of lower east coast upto 200m depth are estimated at 274000 tons (Bulletin No. 20 of Fishery Survey of India).

The exploratory survey vessels Matsya Shikari and Matsya Darshini based at Visakhapatnam Base have been surveying the waters off Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal Coast since eighties with emphasis on resources in the outer continental shelf, and have made an assessment of the stock. In additional to bottom trawling, Matsya Darshini conducted pelagic/columnar resources survey by purse-seining and mid water trawling for limited durations.

Important achievements:

• The inshore areas of the Andhra, Orissa and West Bengal were fairly surveyed and located rich shrimp grounds in Sand heads off West Bengal and off Paradip-Orissa Coast.

• Rich mackerel grounds were located during the survey along the north east coast particularly along the Orissa coast in 50-150m depth.

• Good concentration of sardine resources was found in 70-90m depth range during demersal survey along the Andhra Coast.

• The shelf areas between 100-400m was surveyed and found that the catch comprised of Deepsea shrimps, Perches, Nemipterids, Priacanthids, Drift fish and Black ruff.

• Potentially rich pomfret grounds were located off Naraspur and Machilipatnam of Andhra Pradesh.

• Trawling was introduced along the upper east coast by the Base during early eighties. A preliminary survey conducted showed encouraging results.

• A preliminary survey of the demersal resources of Andaman Waters was conducted by the Visakhapatnam Base and established the availability spear lobster (Linuparus somniosus) for the first time from the Indian waters. This species was seen along with the spiny lobster (Puerulus sewelli) in the depth range of 300-360m. Green eye (Chlorophthalmus spp.) and silver belly were the predominant varieties recorded from the deeper and shallow waters respectively.

Three medium sized (17.5m OAL) survey vessels viz., Meena Khojini, Matsya Vigyani (32.28m OAL) were stationed at this base for varying periods during 1971 to 1990. These vessels conducted regular survey for demersal and pelagic fishery resources around the Andaman & Nicobar Islands by conducting fishing by various methods such as bottom trawling, longlining, hand lining and purse seining and collected information on the distribution and abundance of fishing deepsea demersal resources in the Andaman & Nicobar waters. The vessel Matsya Shikari also undertaken short term cruises from Port Blair during 1990-91. Oceanic tuna resources survey in the EEZ around the Islands, which represents about 30% of the Indian EEZ, was initiated in the year 1985 by deploying the tuna long line vessels Matsya Sugundhi) under a short term project covering four months The tuna long liner Blue Marlin was based at Port Blair on a regular basis since 1991 to carry out survey of deep-swimming tunas and allied resources in the EEZ around Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The vessel also covers the north-east coast by conducting tuna longline fishing during 2-3 months in a year.

Achievements :

The Exploratory fishing surveys conducted by FSI in the Andaman & Nicobar waters have generated a sound data base on fishery resources of the region. Some of the salient findings of the survey conducted in the Andaman & Nicobar water include estimation of standing stock of demersal resources in the shelf area (16000 sq.km) around the Andamans as 44,576 tonnes with the stock density of 2786 tonnes/sq.km. Rich grounds for spear lobster (Linuparus somniosus) was located for the first time in Andaman waters. Feasibility of hand line fishing for demersal resources in the shelf area of the island waters was established, besides location of potential resources of high quality tunas.