The study was conducted in 22 well-structured fish markets across Maharashtra state including landing centres, retail and wholesale markets to assess the trade of commercially important fishes. The field survey was conducted during the period of August 2019- March 2020 using a structure field survey tool-Fish Market Prices (FMP). During the survey period, total of 97 species of fish fauna was traded which included 61 marine species, 21 fresh water species and 15 brackish water species. It has been observed that among the total species traded/ available across different markets of Maharashtra, inland species (Catla, Rohu, Tilapia, Asian Seabass, Common carp, Grass carp, Silver carp) were the most prominent compared to other fishes. As the theory goes the price and demand of a fish is influenced by market structure, seasonal abundance and origin of species, size and quality. Fish demand was sensitive to the price changes and their availability. The study revealed that the share of Maharashtra to total marine fish production of India has been slackening. The major reason behind the devolution of marine sector is the extreme bad weather events which adversely affected the marine fisheries during 2018. Inaddition lower catch per unit effort and non-availability of fish also resulted towards the decline of marine fish landings. The study also offers scope for the Government to intervene in the fish markets so that more fish species become available, accessible and affordable to consumers. Creation of infrastructure and provision of infrastructure seems to be the buzz word towards improved marketing efficiency.

Objectives: To assess the species and market diversity across the major fish markets of Andhra Pradesh and Telengana in India. Methods/Statistical analysis: The primary statistical tool of percentage analysis, diversity index and constraint analysis has been carried out to assess various parameters of the study. One of the major analysis employed diversity index method to assess the diversification of fish markets which indicates the number of species available/ traded in a particular market as well as species diversity which indicates the spatial distribution of a particular species across markets and Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient method is carried out to deduce the constraints in fish trade by the traders across the major fish markets of Andhra Pradesh and Telengana. Findings/Application: The study points out that the total species traded across different fish markets of Andhra Pradesh and Telengana, inland species (Catla, Rohu, Tilapia, Pangasius) are the most available and traded fishes compared to other fishes traded/available across the markets. Markets had been the major drivers for the fisheries production system channeling the fish landed/produced in realizing the value. Thus, the price and demand of a fish is influenced by market structure, seasonal abundance, and origin of species, size and quality. Fish demand was sensitive to the price changes, the inland fishes were the highly preferred fish species among consumers in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana and its demand seemed to be low-responsive to price changes, keeping the income constant. The study also analysed the major constraints perceived by the different traders operating in Telengana and Andhra Pradesh using the Spearman's rank correlation method. The constraint analysis indicates that low quantum of fish and lower product diversity contributed as the major constraint to the traders both on Telengana (0.89) and Andhra Pradesh (0.84) fish markets. This was primarily characterised due to low amount of fish arrivals and disbursal within the market. The traders had constraints related to inadequate infrastructure and amenities leading to non-imparting of value additions, limited facilities of ice, cold, storage, parking, inappropriate market locations, hygiene measures were improper and poor handling measures were found to be the some of the major constraints affecting the particular markets. Moreover, development of a Fish Market Price Information system could act as a support system for ensuring the fish https://ijed.in/