10 categories accounted for around 4.3 lakh MT
Small sciaenid emerged as the largest identified species category, with production touching 97,105 metric tonnes (MT), followed by ribbonfish at 81,087 MT, according to the state’s district-wise and species-wise fisheries data. Bombay duck was the third-largest catch at 52,234 MT, followed by shrimp at 44,580 MT and catfish at 33,471 MT. Ranifish, squid/cuttles, mackerel, white pomfret and tuna completed the top 10. Those in the business however say ghol production has declined by about 25% over a decade. In 2025-26, fishermen of the state netted 9,942 MT of hilsa, a species that has high demand in states like West Bengal.
The air bladder of the fish is priced very high and is exported for its medicinal value,” said Rajesh Chamadia, president of the state chapter of Seafood Exporters Association of India. “We are witnessing a steady decrease in ghol production over the years,” he said. Sources in fishermen associations said Bharuch accounts for the lion’s share of hilsa catch, but the species gets netted off the coast of Navsari, Surat, Porbandar and Gir-Somnath as well.
“The prices quoted by the fisheries department are wholesale prices. Ghol fish can cost much higher than the amount. Veljibhai Masani, president of the All India Fishermen Association agreed that ghol, which was found in abundance all along the state coast, is now fished mainly off the coast of Amreli, Gir-Somnath, Porbandar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Kutch and Morbi.