Shrimp, cuttlefish, squid and quite a few other fish from Kerala have found a large global market. The land blessed with rich inshore fishing areas yield commercially important varieties like oil sardines (mathi chala), mackerel (ayila), prawn (chemmeen) and silver bellies (mullans).
With a 36,000 sq km marine water spread and 3600 sq km of inland water bodies comprising 44 rivers, lakes, estuaries, backwaters, canals and fish farms, Kerala is the largest fish landing state in India. The land has a maximum marine resource potential of one million tons annually.
Canned seafood from Kerala is a favourite in markets like South East Asia, West Europe, Japan and the USA. Japan has been for many years the single largest consumer of Kerala's marine export.
A third of the State's fish landing comes from Kollam, especially Neendakara; an old sea port on the Arabian Sea coast. Kollam has 24 inland fishing villages. Moving towards central Kerala, Alappuzha, popularly known as the Venice of the East, is also a great contributor to the large fish harvest. Kochi, the Queen of Arabian Sea, has a large concentration of seafood export companies.
Kasaragod with its 80 km long sea coast has several fish landing centres. Kannur district, also in northern Kerala, has an 82 km coast line which offers vast potential for the fishing industry.
