The national-level sample survey, following stratified two-stage random sampling, implemented through Fish Catch Survey and Analysis (FCSA) online data collection application, was completed for the year 2021 and the collected data pertaining to more than 2 lakh units landed was processed for deriving species-wise, fishing gear-wise and fishing zone-wise monthly marine fish landings estimates. Further, the estimates were consolidated to get state-wise and national level estimates of marine fish landings for 2021.
The estimated marine fish landings along the coast of the mainland of India during 2021 was 3.05 million tonnes, showed an increase of about 11.8% compared to the landings in 2020, the year in which there was a decline in landings mainly because of loss in fishing days due to Covid-19 pandemic related closure of the fishery. Compared to 2019, the normal fishery year, the landings in 2021 was 14.4% less.
States with maximum landings in 2021 are Gujarat (5.76 lakh tonnes), Tamil Nadu (5.62 lakh tonnes), Kerala (5.55 lakh tonnes) and Karnataka (5.51 lakh tonnes), contributing to 18.9%, 18.5%, 18.2% and 18.1% respectively towards the national total. Compared to the landings in 2019, there was a 76.3% increase in Odisha landings, 57% increase in Goa, 9.9% increase in Karnataka, 3.8% increase in Puducherry and 2.0% increase in Kerala. The maritime states with a reduction in landings in 2021 compared to 2019 were West Bengal (45.0%), Daman & Diu (40.3%), Maharashtra (38.9%), Tamil Nadu (27.4%), Gujarat (23.1%) and Andhra Pradesh (20.3%).
In 2021, the maximum landings was in the southwest region with 1.16 million tonnes (38.0%), followed by 0.81 million tonnes (26.5%) in the southeast region, 0.77 million tonnes (25.1%) in the northwest region and 0.32 million tonnes (10.4%) in the northeast region.
Marine fishery resources with the highest landings contribution in 2021 were Lesser sardines 2.26 lakh tonnes (7.4% of the national total), Scads 2.14 lakh tonnes (7.0%), Indian mackerel 2.13 lakh tonnes (7.0%), Penaeid shrimps 1.68 lakh tonnes (5.5%), Cephalopods 1.56 lakh tonnes (5.13%), Non-penaeid shrimps 1.56 lakh tonnes (5.1%), Threadfin breams 1.45 lakh tonnes (4.8%), Ribbonfishes 1.41 lakh tonnes (4.6%), Anchovies 1.37 lakh tonnes (4.5%) and Croakers 1.01 lakh tonnes (3.3%). The Indian oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps), which is an iconic resource, both quantitywise as well as consumer preference-wise, moved to the 11th position with only 0.87 lakh tonnes landed in 2021 (2.86% of the national total). Hilsa, yet another unique resource, showed a declining trend compared to previous years.
Going by the bifurcation of estimated landings with respect to artisanal and non-artisanal modes of fishing in 2021, 2.44 million tonnes (80.0%) were attributed to mechanized fishing vessels, 0.57 million tonnes (18.8%) by motorized fishing crafts and only 0.04 million tonnes (1.2%) by non-motorized fishing crafts.
The CMFRI Annual Report 2021 is available: http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/16576/