Abstract Fisheries in reservoirs, play a significant role in the livelihood of rural communities. In this context, a study was undertaken in Stanley reservoir in Salem district of Tamil Nadu to understand management of fisheries in the largest reservoir in South India. An attempt was made to comprehend the problems encountered by the fishers. The Department of Fisheries takes lead role in the management of the reservoir. Rules and regulations are framed by the Department of Fisheries including annual stocking of fish seeds. Fishing in the Stanley reservoir is carried out by licensed fishers whose numbers are regulated by the Department of Fisheries. It was observed that mesh size regulations and closed seasons are not enforced strictly. Fishers need to sell the catch to the Fishermen Co-operative Marketing Society which gives them reasonable price. The major constraints perceived by the fishers were ‘fluctuating income’ and ‘poaching’. Keywords: Stanley reservoir, fisheries management, licensed fishers Introduction Fisheries form an important source of food, occu- pation and recreation for people around the world. It has been recognized as the source of livelihood for a larger section of economically backward population of the country. The total Indian fish production during the year 2011-12 was 8.67 mt, with a contribution of 5.30 mt from inland sector (DAHDF, 2013). The large network of inland waters in India provides great potential for capture Fisheries Management in Stanley Reservoir - A Case Analysis S. Agnes Daney Angela*, Sheela Immanuel, P. S. Ananthan, G. Ajay Anand and M. Krishnan Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Versova, Mumbai - 400 061, India Fishery Technology 52 (2015) : 58 - 61 © 2015 Society of Fisheries Technologists (India) fisheries. Reservoir is the single largest inland aquatic resource in India, in terms of resources and production potential. Even though reservoirs form an important source of fish, its potential has not yet been fully exploited. Sugunan (1995) suggested that unlike the rivers, which are under the increasing threat of environmental degradation, the reservoirs offer ample scope for fish yield through adoption of suitable management norms. Any attempt to increase productivity in inland fisheries has to rely heavily on the reservoirs. Of the total area of 29 07 000 ha under reservoirs in India, 5 70 000 ha are in Tamil Nadu (DAHDF, 2013). Therefore reservoirs can play a major role in the fisheries development in the state. The fishery resources of most of the reservoirs in Tamil Nadu are under the control of the Department of Fisheries and a few are under the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation Limited (TNFDC). There are three methods by which the fishery resources of reservoirs are being harvested viz., licensing system, shared fishing system and leasing system. The fishery resources of Stanley reservoir is under the control of Department of Fisheries and is being harvested by licensing system. For the proper and efficient management of the fishery resources of the reservoir, it is essential to study the existing management regimes of the reservoirs and under- stand the problems and difficulties of the fishers so that feasible solutions could be provided. This study aims to understand the fisheries management methods in vogue and the problems faced by the fishers of the Stanley reservoir which can be helpful for providing solutions to their problems and enhancing management and thereby sustaining their livelihood. Materials and Methods The study was conducted during the year 2010-2011 in the Stanley reservoir situated in Mettur taluk of Salem district in Tamil Nadu. Two villages namely Received 01 March 2013; Revised 17 November 2013; Accepted 10 January 2014 * E-mail: agnesdanyangela@gmail.com