Craft-specific Assessment of Resource Use Efficiency of Marine Fisheries in Balasore District of Odisha, India

This study examined the economics and Resource use efficiency of marine fishing operations during the financial year 2023-24 in the Balasore district of Odisha, India, with a focus on mechanised, motorised, and non-motorised fishing units. Using primary data from 120 respondents across six villages, namely Chandipur, Bahabalpur, Kasafal, Saudi, Budhirani and Chaumukh, the research employed cost-return analysis to evaluate input-output relationships and the Cobb-Douglas production function to find out resource efficiency. Results revealed that mechanised units, despite generating the highest gross returns(72.23lakhs), suffered from high operational costs and exhibited decreasing returns to a scale of 0.822. Mechanised sector exhibited MVP/MFC ratio such as food(14.62), ice(4.96) and repair and maintenance(3.79) implicating scope for increase in these input for improving production. Motorised units demonstrated increasing returns to scale of 1.353 and efficient responsiveness to key inputs depicted by efficiency ratio(MVP/MFC) such as diesel(2.91), labour(5.91), and fishing days(1.10), indicating strong potential for scaled-up productivity. Non-motorised units, though limited in scale and technology, achieved the highest input-output ratio of 1.58, reflecting superior cost efficiency. Resource efficiency analysis highlighted the underutilisation of inputs, such as labour, nets, and operational days in non-motorised sector thus reflecting addition of these resource for increased productivity. The results highlighted the importance of targeted policy measures, such as fuel-efficient technologies, skill development, and the modernisation of artisanal crafts, to improve sustainability and profitability in Odisha's marine fisheries.