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The total landings of tuna and tuna-like species (hereinafter referred to as tuna fishery) in India for 2019 was estimated at 199898 tonnes, showing a marginal decrease of 4.32percent over the previous year (208 928tonnes in 2018). Gillnets contributed 37.19 percentto the total landings of tuna fishery, followed by trawls (18.51%) and smalllonglines (12.14%). Pole and line fishing, practiced exclusively in the waters of the Lakshadweep Group of Islands, contributed 5.51percent to the total tuna landings. Other gears like small purse seines, ringseinesandgillnet-cum-longlines also contributed to the tuna landings in small quantities during the year. Marginal spatial variation was observed in the tuna landings along the mainland coastline. The western coast of India (FAO area 51) contributed a larger share to the landings (51.29%) and the balance 48.71percentcame from the east coast (FAO area 57). Tuna landings in 2019comprisedseven species, four representing the neritic (27.91%) and three from the oceanic group (30.11%). Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) (16.84%) and Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis)contributed the maximum (16.9%),followed by Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis; 12.74%). There was no reporting of sea bird interactions with the tuna fishery during the reporting period. Similarly, there was no reporting of the mortality of sea turtles, marine mammals and whale sharks, which are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 of India. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR-CMFRI), Fishery Survey of India (FSI) of the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India and the Department of Fisheries of the coastal States and Union Territories (UTs) are the main agencies responsible for data collection and collation on tuna fishery.
