Caught in the ‘Net’: Fish Consumption Patterns of Coastal Regions in India

Fish is an important source of food and livelihood for people. Owing to their proximity to the sea, coastal communities have long depended on this resource to meet their nutritional needs. Does this, however, still hold true today? This paper analyses the fish consumption patterns of rural and urban populations in coastal States and Union Territories (UTs) in India, and how these have changed over time. The analysis is based on unit record data on fish consumption obtained from National Sample Surveys conducted in 1983 and 2009-10. Distributional aspects of fish consumption both within and across coastal States/UTs, and over time are assessed. The results suggest that despite an increase in fish production over time, people living close to the coast in almost all States and UTs report a decline in consumption. Among other things, the paper explores the role of trade in explaining the wedge between production and consumption.