Thiruvanthapuram:

Kerala has recorded least growth rate in the fish production during the years 2004-05 and 2010-11, according to an independent research and analysis by the apex industry body of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

According to the survey, the fish production in the state has come down from around 8.66 lakh tonnes in the year 2008-09 to the current level of around 6.82 lakh tonnes. Karnataka has emerged as the leading coastal state with highest growth rate in fish production.

With around five lakh tonnes of annual fish production, Karnataka accounts for almost six per cent of the overall fish production in the country which is currently estimated at 91 lakh tonnes. Besides, in value terms, the fisheries sector in Karnataka is worth around Rs 4,000 crore.

Amid leading coastal states in India, Andhra Pradesh ranks second in terms of growth in fish production with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of about eight per cent and with over 13.5 lakh tonnes of fish production annually.

West Bengal (4.85 per cent), Tamil Nadu (4.47 per cent), Gujarat (3.37 per cent) and Odisha (3.25 per cent) are other leading fish producing states in India which recorded fish production growth rate in between three and four per cent.

Goa has registered a negative growth rate of fish production of around minus 33 per cent as the fish production has slipped from a whopping 9.9 lakh tonnes in 2004-05 to the current level of just 94,000 tonnes mostly due to over-exploitation of fisheries resources.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / Home> South> Southern News / Thiruvananthapuram / The New Indian Express, Express News Service / may 25ht, 2012