Catch-based Marine Fish Abundance along the Maharashtra Coast of India

Abstract

Maharashtra, with its extensive 720 km coastline, encompasses seven maritime districts: Palghar, Thane, Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. This state is a major contributor to India's marine fisheries, supported by a significant fleet of approximately 12,946 mechanized and 2,272 non-mechanized fishing vessels. The study investigated catch-based marine fish abundance along the Maharashtra coast, focusing on data collected from 33 species and species groups.  The analysis classified the status of fish stocks into categories such as abundant, less abundant, declining, depleted, or collapsed, based on the percentage of recent average catch relative to historical maximums. Findings indicated distinct regional variations: Mumbai region showed a relatively better situation in terms of the status of species abundance, with 63.64% of species categorized as abundant or less abundant. Conversely, the southern districts, particularly Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, exhibit alarming declines, with significant proportions of species classified as depleted or collapsed. Historical studies and comparative analyses underscore the dynamic nature of fisheries and the need for adaptive management strategies. Regions like Ratnagiri, with only 3.03% of species classified as abundant, highlight the critical state of marine resources. The study emphasized the necessity for continuous monitoring, effective management interventions, and tailored conservation plans to sustain the marine fish populations across Maharashtra's diverse coastal regions. Urgent, targeted conservation efforts are particularly crucial in the southern districts, where the abundance of the number of species and species groups is declining rapidly.