Marine Fish Production in Karnataka: Trends and Composition

This paper attempts to assess the long-term trend in marine fish production in Karnataka using two different growth functions and analyses the changes in species composition during the past three decades. It argues that not only has there been a falling trend in production, but also a change in species composition resulting in the decline of hitherto commercially important fish as well as those consumed by local communities. It suggests that this decline is not just a seasonal fluctuation but an indication of fish famine in terms of both production and accessibility.