Constraint analysis of Fishermen and Market Intermediaries of Marine Fish Markets in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Maharashtra ranks fifth in total marine fish landing in India, and the significant share contributed by pelagic resources (38 %), followed by demersal (28.7 %), crustaceans (24.8 %), and mollusks (9 %). The marine fish landings of Maharashtra during 2020 were 398511 tons, having an annual growth rate of -10.61%. (Fisheries Dept. report 2021), mainly because of the loss of fishing days and lack of fishing labour due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The constraint analysis through rank-based quotient (RBQ) is done to analyse the various problems stakeholders face during marketing in the Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra. RBQ analysis revealed that the high transportation cost, uncertain catch, non-availability of high-grade fish catch, marketing cost (transportation/labour etc.), poor infrastructure facilities at the market yard, non -availability of insulated boxes are the significant constraints faced by the actors involved in the marketing. The policymakers should consider the challenges faced by the marketers of this region to encourage fish marketing by building organized markets.