AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF MARINE FISH PRODUCTION FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT IN TAMIL NADU
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Date
2015
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Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to estimate the economic efficiency of marine fishing crafts for sustainable management in Tamil Nadu. Specifically, the objectives include mapping of socio-economic profile of fisherfolk engaged in marine fishing, economic analysis of marine fishing, estimating the technical efficiency of marine fishing crafts, studying the impact of different marine fishery resource conservation and management policies of Tamil Nadu and suggesting policy interventions for sustainable management of marine fisheries. Characteristically, the Tamil Nadu coast has been demarcated into four; Coromandel, Palk Bay, Gulf of Mannar and West coast. Of this, Palk Bay was chosen for the study due to its significance in terms of marine fish production, number of crafts operated and on the necessity for research focus. The study was conducted in eight fishing villages of Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai and Nagapattinam districts representing major chunk of the Palk Bay region. The sampling criteria used for the study was based on the higher concentration of crafts. The survey points include: Nagapattinam, Kodiakarai, Kottaipattinam, Jagadapattinam, Tondi, Mandapam, Pamban and Rameshwaram across the three craft types: Traditional, Motorised and Mechanised. The sample frame consists of active fishermen, both owners and labourers. The sample size of the study was fixed at 450 comprising of traditional (90), motorised (180) and mechanised (180). The respondents were chosen by simple random sampling and the data was collected through personal interview. A pilot field survey was undertaken to pre-test the interview schedules to avoid any unforeseen ambiguity. After pre-testing, necessary modification was done in the schedule to overcome the faux pas and the same was used for primary data collection. The contribution of mechanized, motorised and traditional crafts to marine fish production is informative and pertinent. Compared to the optimum fleet strength, the existing fishing fleet strength in mechanised and motorised sectors were in excess by a factor of 3.8 and 4.8, respectively. Fishing effort reduction policy decisions should be sought to resolve overcapacity and overcapitalization issues. The average age of the respondent fisherfolk in traditional sector was about 55 (54.9)
years. The average age of the respondent fisherfolk in motorised and mechanised sector was found to be 44 (44.41) and 42 (41.93) years, respectively, which is about 10 and 13 years lesser than the average age of respondents in traditional sector. The educational profile of majority of the traditional fisherfolk (52.2%) was skewed in the middle school level in contrast to that of motorised (34.4%) and mechanised sector (35.6%) where majority of the respondents had up to high school level education. As education plays a key role on sustainability, school and college education should be emphasised in order to make them realize the importance of long term sustainability. It was obvious that the standard of living of the fisherfolk belonging to motorised fishing sector was high in contrast to traditional and mechanised as the former had lower
Engle’s coefficient (45.89) than the other two sectors. Of the three sectors, traditional sector had the lowest Gini ratio of 0.04, signifying the lowest degree of inequality. The net profit per trip of trawler was much higher (Rs. 16,371.15) than motorised (Rs. 2,584.00) and traditional (Rs. 169.14) vessels. Of the three sectors, traditional boats have registered the highest profit margin of 45.61% and least payback period of 0.58 years.
Similarly, in the mechanised sector, the net operating profit per fishing trip of long liner was higher (Rs. 2,55,441.20) than trawler (Rs. 1,04,964.62) and gill netter (Rs. 18,183.96). Long liners registered the highest profit margin of 25.15%. Payback period varied narrowly in the mechanised sector, with both trawlers and long liners registering the same payback of 2.6 years and gill netters little longer (3.17 years). The overall technical efficiency under CRS was worked out to be 4% in traditional, 44% in motorised, 29% in trawlers, 73% in gill netters and 100% in long liners. Scale efficiency of motorised vessel, trawlers, gill netters and long liners were highly optimal in contrast to that of traditional vessels, where majority of them had inefficient scale efficiency. The perception of fisherfolk towards the sustained management of marine resources was sought using Chi-square test of dependence. The p value worked out to 0.001 stating that the respondent opinions varied significantly across the three sectors. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was employed to show whether responses of four groups (three sectors along with scientists) differ from one another in evaluating the 12 independent factors that affect the industry’s survival and future. The result was found to be highly significant as the p value of both the multivariate indicators (Wilks’ Lambda and Pillai’s Trace) were at zero level and easily overriding the conventional significance levels of 0.05 and 0.01. Scientists opined that registration of new boats need to be curtailed immediately all over the State, as it leads to illicit multiplication of the same, resulting in overcapacity and overcapitalization. The average opinion index of scientists (94.67) regarding buyback programme was much higher than the fishermen of motorised and mechanised sector, signifying their keen stand for buyback. On the other hand, the opinion index of both motorised and echanised
sectors were 54.67 and 44.00, with motorised sector showing comparatively better interest towards buyback. Regarding the major constraints in fishing, over capacity of boats (Garret score = 78.22) was the critical issue in traditional sector and declining fish catch was found to be the grave issue among motorised (Garret score = 79.00) and mechanised (Garret score = 76.68) sectors. Among the traditional and motorised sectors, education and health (Garrett score of
66.57 and 70.93, respectively) was the principal reason for borrowing. In case of mechanised
sector boat repair and maintenance (Garrett score = 67.57) was the primary reason of debt.
Moreover, the mechanised workers faced a tough situation during the fishing ban period due
to the suspension of fishing activities. Their major constraint was poverty (Garret
score=63.47) followed by seasonal employment (Garret score=58.95).
The present study recommended more comprehensive studies on economic efficiency
and sustainability, covering the other zones of the State. Further, in-depth studies assessing
the feasibility (transaction cost of implementation) of buybacks in participation with the
stakeholders was also suggested.