Identifying vulnerabilities in Maharashtra fisheries based on concentration indices and efficiency analysis.
Supervisor: Ikerne del Valle (UPV/EHU)
Fisheries is cheap and important source of animal protein in India. Maharashtra is one of the important maritime states of India situated on west coast. Growth of Marine fisheries of Maharashtra has become stagnant in past two decades and fish stocks are in decline. Thus, in this study different Concentration Indices CIs were analysed to understand dependence of marine fisheries of Maharashtra. Variability of CIs were analysed with factors: Area, Year, Month and Gear. Non-mechanised fisheries of Maharashtra were found to be highly dependent upon 5 leading fish varieties making then vulnerable to external shocks and their collapse could result in loss of livelihoods of fisherfolks in coastal districts of Maharashtra. Technical efficiency analysis and efficiency changes were carried out using data envelopment analysis double bootstrap model and Malmquist model. Efficiencies were found to vary with factors Year, Area, Month, and Gear. Efficiency of Maharashtra fisheries was found to be low during monsoon and increased post monsoon. Due to development differences Northern coastal districts were found to more efficient than southern coastal districts. In this thesis we propose detailed study of concentration indices at fishing zone level to accurately identify vulnerable fisherfolks due to high fisheries concentration. We also recommend promotion of diversification of fisherfolks by government and fisheries cooperatives. Considering less efficiency of southern coastal districts of Maharashtra, we suggest reduction in number of vessels as well as engine capacity. Introduction of policies like Total allowable catch could nudge fishing communities to be more efficient through cooperation. Efficiency studies using data of fishing vessels could provide better insight in how to increase efficiency of fisheries.