Fish and Fisheries of North-Eastern States of India

The Northern-Eastern region of India, consisting of seven contiguous land-locked states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura), commonly called Seven Sisters; contribute 7.75% of total land area and 3.72% of population (Census, 2001) of the country. They present a paradoxical picture of being poor in the midst of plenty. These states suffer due to the inherent problem of difficult terrain/variable topography and communication, both within and with rest of the country, as a result of partition in the year 1947. Resultant to these two factors, the region portrays a retarded growth in almost all sectors of economy. The socio-economic development of this region is one of the priority programs of Govt. of India.

Fish being an important constituent of daily diet of most of the locals of the region, development of this sector is the much-needed area, both for food and socio-economics. But, somehow, this sector received inadequate importance, till recent past, in most of the states of the region, bringing additional burden to the region’s already poor economy. The information available in literature regarding available fish and fishery resources, fish production, developmental measures being undertaken, the potential and the required approach to development of the sector is all very scantly and scattered. This book provides precisely all such information, which are very essential for suitably planning needed development of the sector in this region.

The information regarding available resource, production and activities being presently undertaken are based on inputs received from directors of the concerned state fisheries departments. Information regarding fish species available in different states pf the region has been compiled from literature. The potential and statewise developmental measures suggested are author’s inputs, based on experience of working in all these seen states (during four year’s tenure as Advisor (Fisheries), NEC and presently planning, implementing and monitoring Tripura’s fishery development since last about six years.