Nations having access to oceans are blessed with the wealth of many added\ud
resources. Fisheries form one among the renewable, but not inexhaustible\ud
marine resources. Majority of fisher folk in India, who depends on these\ud
resources for their livelihood over generations could not still get the benefits\ud
of rapid technological advancements and economic development. The\ud
operational efficiency of complex and diverse capture fishing strategies led\ud
to implicit conflict in resource use among stakeholders of different sectors.\ud
Mounting competition and continuous technological up-gradation in open access multi -\ud
gear, multi- species marine fisheries paved the way for increase in gross production with\ud
reduction in catch rates and per capita earnings. Excess capacity of fishing fleets due to\ud
overcapitalization has not only led to disguised unemployment and diminishing returns\ud
but also threatens the extinction of certain distinctly precious resources beyond the sustainable\ud
level. The marginalisation further widens economic disparity and coastal distress warranting\ud
massive extension efforts in capacity building and empowerment of stakeholders for\ud
sustainable production and equitable distribution