An assessment on the impact of bottom trawling to the demersal fisheries and benthic diversity of Andaman Islands, India

Bottom trawling, one among the most destructive fishing methods still remains unmanaged in many countries including India even though many studies around the world have proved its impact on fisheries, benthic biodiversity and sea floor structure. The present study characterizes the impact of bottom trawling on demersal fishes and mega epifauna by quantifying the catch data from bottom trawlers operated along the coasts of Andaman Islands. Use of smaller mesh size, non-availability of related industries, no implementation of TED and lack of awareness among the fishermen community lead to a discard of ∼75% of the total catch. Catch of IUCN red listed species, soft corals, sponges and other ecologically important species in the bycatch shows the loss of structural complexity of the habitat which in future will be affecting the fisheries of these areas.