History, culture, infrastructure and export markets shape fisheries and reef accessibility in India's contrasting oceanic islands

Abstract

SUMMARYIslands offer unique model systems for studying fisheries development in relation to the growing global seafood trade. This study examines how export-driven fisheries in India's oceanic islands (Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands) differ significantly as a result of their varied history, culture, available infrastructure and market access. Despite being geographically closer to export centres on the Indian mainland, processing and transport infrastructure in the Lakshadweep Islands are limited. This only allows for the trade of non-perishable commodities like dried tuna that are caught using traditional pole-and-line fishing techniques, restricting reef exploitation to local preference-based consumption and opportunistic export. The Andaman Islands, on the other hand, with multiple daily flight connections and large private and government processing facilities, are better connected to export markets. The relatively recent and multicultural fisheries of these islands supply marine commodity chains for reef fishery goods such as dried shark fins, frozen snapper fillets and chilled groupers. The Nicobar Islands are furthest away from mainland export centres and are mostly populated by indigenous communities – fishing here is mostly for subsistence and local sale. Revised estimates of travel times to export market centres are counterintuitive in terms of geographical distances and are significantly different from travel times to local markets.

Tides of Change in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

“…However, fisheries sustainability is likely to be a casualty unless large-scale plans such as long-lining and deep-sea fishing are well-regulated. We find that several boom and bust fisheries driven by sea-food export markets in nearby Southeast Asia offer important lessons for Indian conditions and need to be incorporated into policy and management (Jaini et al 2017). We also recognize that local development interventions combined with large-scale threats such as climate change and seismic events can result in cumulative impacts that can be overwhelming.…”

Catch composition and life history characteristics of sharks and rays (Elasmobranchii) landed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

“…demersal longliners, hook and line, and gillnet fisheries, which operate near the coast and shallow seamounts). Fishers from the Andaman Islands fish across the waters of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands while the communities on the Nicobar Islands, due to their seclusion, only fish for subsistence or to sell fish in the local market [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Catch composition and life history characteristics of sharks and rays (Elasmobranchii) landed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

“…Demersal longliners as well as hook and line and gillnet fisheries operate near the coast and shallow seamounts. Fishers from the Andaman Islands fish across the waters of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands while the communities on the Nicobar Islands, due to their seclusion, only fish for subsistence or fishing for sale in local markets [27, 28].…”

“…Most past literature on sharks and rays from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been limited to species identification and taxonomy [22–27]. A large knowledge gap exists in our understanding of the catch composition of commercial species landed, their population trends, biological characteristics across seasons.…”