Question

Give an account of fishing along the west coast of India with reference to the problems faced in the industry.

Answer 1

Problems Faced in the industry:

• Seasonality of Fishing:
  • Fishing is seasonal due to monsoon winds and cyclones, which limit fishing activity to 8–9 months.
• Lack of Modern Equipment:
  • Around 60% of fishermen use small, non-mechanised boats.
  • These boats cannot venture into deep-sea fishing.
• Preservation Difficulties:
  • Tropical climate causes rapid spoilage of fish.
  • There are insufficient cold storage and freezing facilities.
• Lack of Infrastructure:
  • Inadequate landing centres, canning, freezing, and processing units.
  • Poor transportation systems in fishing villages.
• Low Domestic Demand;
  • In some areas, the vegetarian population limits local consumption.