Surge Pricing and Catch - Income Sustainability Paradox in Marine Fisheries in Maharashtra

Demand for marine fish is a function of availability and practically enjoys inelastic demand in Mumbai. This paper examines the catch sustainability-income paradox that negates real income improvements of fishers in Maharashtra in the long run. The income scenario of the marine fishers in Maharashtra has not been too encouraging. Rise in prices have been inversely related to decline in landings in Maharashtra. The prices of premium species have surged manifold over the last 15 years. The threshold limits of select species or specie groups that have touched sustainability bounds and limits to which income of fishers can be increased, if at all, from this perspective has been examined. An analysis of income dynamics based on the Schaefer model or the "surplus production models" was estimated with data on aggregate fishing effort and the total production obtained from the stock. The overall growth of fish landings in Maharashtra has been declining by as much as (-) 15.48 per cent during 2000-2016, indicating a declining fishery in coastal Maharashtra. Given the scenario of overfishing, the increased income of the fishers may be attributed to the demand for fish. Ways to improve the income of the Maharashtra marine fishers is to regulate and implement the code of conduct for responsible fisheries strictly, enforce ban on purse seiners, strictly ban mechanised vessels in near shore waters, delicense vessels to achieve ideal fleet strength etc. Proactive forward looking policies that decry the demand for marine fishes below table size and a tax on landing of juvenile fishes would perhaps help contain the unsustainable fishing operations, ensuring sustained modal income for fishers.