Fisheries Economics

6.2.3.3. Livelihood support and employment

Fisheries remains a major source of livelihood for the rural poor, particularly all along the 8127 km long coastline of the country. The country has enormous inland and marine waters providing immense livelihood and employment opportunities to the fisherfolk. According to an estimate, about 14 million people derive livelihood and employment from fisheries (www.nfdb.org). The total output of fisheries sector was estimated at Rs.31.672 crores in 2003-04 with net domestic product valued at Rs.27.026 cores (CSO, 2005). With this level of output, over 90 lakh people may be employed at subsistence level of an annual income of Rs.30,000/fisherman. The share of marine and inland fisheries sectors in providing employment to the fisherfolk is 54% and 46% respectively. (XI plan – Fisheries Report, 2007).