KERALA is bordered by a range of mountains viz. the
Western Ghats on the eastern side and the Arabian Sea on
the western side. The total land area of the state is estimated
as 38863 sq.kms. The coastal line of the Arabian Sea sprawling
on the western part of the state is 590 kms in length. The
inshore sea area falling within the territorial limit of
the State (22km) is about 13,000 sq.kms. The continental
shelf area of the sea adjoining the Kerala State is 39139
sq.kms. This part of the sea is considered as the most productive
portion of the Arabian Sea. The estimated marine Fishery
potential of the state is 5.17 lakh tonnes. Fisheries contributes
about 3 percent to the economy of the state. The current
level of annual Marine Fish Production is to the tune of
about 6 lakh tonnes/year.
The
state is endowed with a significant wealth of Inland Fishery
Resources also. The major inland water resources of the
state having much fishery importance are the 44 rivers (85,000
ha), 53 Reservoirs (42890ha), and 53 backwaters and other
brackishwater bodies (65213 ha). This inland water resources
are also contributing rich fishery wealth to the state.
The current level of Inland Fish Production is to the quantum
of about 75036 tonnes/year.
The
population of fisherfolk in Kerala is estimated at about
10.85 lakhs. The fisher people engaged in marine fisheries
are dwelling in small houses spread over the coastal areas.
The number of fishermen actively engaged in sea fishing
is estimated at 2.20 lakhs. The total number of fisherfolk
dwelling in the coastal area is estimated at 835 thousands.
In the Inland Fisheries Sector about 50 thousand fisher
people are engaged in active fishing in various inland water
bodies. The total number of fisherfolk in active fishing
in the inland sector is estimated at 249 thousands. It is
also estimated that about 165 thousands people are engaged
in fishery-allied activities in the State. The general living
conditions and the economic status of the fisherfolk in
the state is considered not up to the living standards of
the general populace of the state.
Organisational Structure
Fisheries
of Kerala is considered as one of the important productive
and development sectors of the state. Governance of the
fisheries sector is vested with the Minister for Fisheries.
The
Chief Executive, responsible for Fisheries in the Government
is the Secretary to the Government (Fisheries). All the
development and management programmes envisaged by the Government
in the fisheries sector are being implemented by the State
Department of Fisheries. The Department of Fisheries is
headed by the Director of Fisheries.
The
Department of Fisheries in the state is structurally stratified
and organised under the following Executive Officers.
State level
Directorate of Fisheries
Director of Fisheries
ADDL. Director of Fisheries - (Technical)
Zonal level
Joint directorate of fisheries
Joint Director of fisheries(south/ central/north zones(3
nos.)
District level
Dy. Directorate of fisheries
Dy. Director of fisheries(14 Nos.)
Panchayat level
Matsya
bhavans
Matsyabhavan officers(200
Nos.)
