An Indepth Study on Fishery Resources and Scope of Utilization for Enhanced Production and Rural Employment Generation in West Bengal

West Bengal is rich in both Marine and Inland fisheries resources. Marine fisheries resources include coast line (158 km) and continental shelf (17000 sq km). Inland fishery resources comprise of inland water bodies (5.45 lakh ha), rivers and canals (2,526 km), reservoirs (0.17 lakh ha), tanks and ponds (2.76 lakh ha), flood plain lakes/derelict waters (0.42 lakh ha) and brackish water (2.10 lakh ha). An in-depth study on distribution of district-wise inland fishery resources reveals that South and North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, Burdwan, Purba and Paschim Medinipur are dominant in impounded freshwater areas. The districts of Purulia, Bankura, and Birbhum constitute 41.07% and 33.57% of total reservoir and bund areas of 28049.85 ha. Damodar, Subarnarekha, Teesta, Atreyee and Mahananda are the major riverine resources.

From 6^th Five Year Plan to 11^th Five Year Plan there is an increase from 4.025 lakh ton to 14.72 lakh ton of fish production registering an increase of 3.66 times. From 2004-05 to 2011-12 inland and marine sectors registered an increase in fish production of 1.21 and 1.13 times respectively. Catch, marketing and distribution of fish production is undertaken through the 3066 fishing crafts,17348 mechanised boats, 59 fish landing centers and spread across 188 fishing villages involving 76,981 fishermen families comprising of 3,80,138 fisher-folk population. Attention is herein drawn to the policy planners for allocation of resources to the respective districts rich either in ponds and tanks or reservoirs/ bunds or riverine wetlands for sustainable enhanced production for rural employment generation. Trend of fish production in relation to cause-effect variables and potential for enhanced production and are also highlighted in this communication.