Marine Fisheries

MARINE FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT

Tamil Nadu has a coastal length of 1076 km (13% of the country's coast line) 1.9 lakh sq.km of EEZ (9.4% of the India's EEZ) and a continental shelf of about 41,412 sq.km and is one of the leading state in marine fish production. The marine fisheries production of the state is 4.97 lakh tons.


The State has marine fishermen population of 10.07 lakh from 608 marine fishing villages scattered along the 13 coastal district. In the inshore waters the fishery potential is exploited by 38,779 traditional crafts and 5893 mechanized boats. The infrastructure facilities include 6 major fishing harbours, 3 medium fishing harbours, 36 fish landing centres and 254 fish landing points.

The export of marine products from the state during 2017-18 amounted to 88,257mts. valued at Rs.4341.78Crore. The per capita consumption of fish in Tamil Nadu is 9.83 Kg as against the recommended requirement of 11.60 kg.


Approximate coastal length of Tamilnadu


Name of the coast Region Length
Coromandal Coast Chennai to Point Calimere 357.2 Km.
PALK BAY Point Calimere to Pamban 293.9 Km.
Gulf of Mannar Pamban to Kanniyakumari 364.9 Km.
West Coast in Arabian Sea Kanniyakumari to Neerodi 60.0 Km.

coastal area

District wise coast length


Name of the District Coramandal Coast Palk Bay Gulf of Mannar West Coast Total (Kms)
Chennai 19.0 - - - 19.0
Thiruvallur 27.9 - - - 27.9
Kanchipuram 87.2 - - - 87.2
Villupuram 40.7 - - - 40.7
Cuddalore 57.5 - - - 57.5
Nagapattinam 124.9 63.0 - - 187.9
Thiruvarur - 47.2 - - 47.2
Thanjavur - 45.1 - - 45.1
Pudukkottai - 42.8 - - 42.8
Ramanathapuram - 95.8 141.0 - 236.8
Thoothukudi - - 163.5 - 163.5
Tirunelveli - - 48.9 - 48.9
Kanyakumari - - 11.5 60.0 71.5
Total 357.2 293.9 364.9 60.0 1076.0

The Gulf of Mannar Region at the southern tip of Tamilnadu is recognised as the richest marine bio diversity region in the world.