Marine Fisheries Management and its Role in Sustainable Marine Resource Use

Marine fisheries are essential to human well-being as food security, livelihoods and biodiversity resources. However, their continued production is increasingly endangered by factors such as overfishing, climate variability, and institutional frameworks for their management. This paper assesses the management contribution of Indian marine fisheries in sustaining marine living resources over five case areas; the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Lakshadweep Sea, North Andaman Sea, and southeast Bay of Bengal. Using a mix of analysis of spatio-temporal catch information, trends of CPUE (Catch Per Unit Effort), and weighted governance scoring for stakeholders, this paper measures current and proposed actions within a management context over a period of 2019-2023. Four out of the five zones (mean decline 13.9%; p<0.05) registered statistically significant declining trends in CPUE, the most precipitous trend was recorded for the Andaman Sea (22.5%). Highest governance effectiveness score (8/10) and strongest recovery rates in stock numbers (15%) were identified for Lakshadweep Sea community co-management. Seasonal fishing closures and gear restrictions performed averagely in improving the stock indicator variables. Evidence clearly suggests a need for adaptive participatory governance systems that bring together environmental, social-economic and institutional attributes for their management. Tailored policies and programs for each case area, use of digital means of reporting and close coordination of authorities at different levels are important for enforcing sustainable practices.