Fishery based livelihood approaches and management of fishery resources in Assam, India

Abstract

In India fishery sector provide livelihood to an estimated 10 million people and in Assam fishery sector contribute more than 2% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) to the state economy and plays an important role in providing livelihood to a significant population of the state. The state of Assam has an excellent sub-tropical climate for the development of fresh water fish culture in 3.91 lakh ha of water area an addition of 1.58 lakh hactres of paddy field area. The two major river systems (Brahmaputra and Barak), several beels, lakes, tanks/ ponds and swamps are endowed with valuable fishery resources. Sustainable utilization of available resources with appropriate farming system approaches will increase fish production and also will generate employment opportunities. This paper aimed to focus the potentialities and possibilities of resource utilization as fishery based livelihood through diversified farming systems.