India’s Fisheries Sector

India’s fisheries sector plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, providing employment to millions and contributing significantly to the food security and nutrition of its population. The sector includes marine, inland, and aquaculture fisheries, each with distinct characteristics and challenges. Read here to learn more.

Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated 218 new projects to boost the Fisheries Sector. These projects include:

• National rollout of Vessel Communication and Support system (VCS): Indigenous technology developed by ISRO for establishing two-way communication with fishermen, providing for their emergency rescue and safety. Phase-wise installation of mechanized/motorized fishing vessels in 13 coastal states/UTs has been envisaged.
• The foundation stone for infrastructure projects including development, upgradation and modernization of fishing harbours, landing centres and construction of fish markets.
• Development of Integrated Aquaparks and adoption of advanced technologies such as the Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) and Biofloc.
  • Aquaparks were introduced under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana to facilitate various fisheries activities in one place.
  • RAS involves the use of mechanical and biological filters where the water in the fish culture tanks is recycled and reused after removing suspended particles and metabolites.
  • Biofloc is an environmentally friendly aquaculture technique based on in-situ microorganism production.

India’s Fisheries Sector

• Economic Contribution:
  • The fisheries sector contributes about 1.24% to India’s Gross Value Added (GVA) and over 7.28% to the agricultural GVA.
  • India is the second-largest fish producer in the world, with an annual fish production of approximately 14.5 million metric tons (2020-21).
  • The country is also a major exporter of fish and fish products, earning significant foreign exchange.
  • India’s top 5 export destinations for fish and fish products are the USA, China, the European Union, Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East.
• Employment: The sector provides direct and indirect employment to over 14 million people, particularly in rural and coastal areas.
• Marine Fisheries:
  • India has a vast coastline of over 8,000 kilometres and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million square kilometres, rich in marine biodiversity.
  • Major marine fish species include Indian mackerel, sardines, tuna, shrimp, and various demersal fish.

Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture

Inland fisheries include rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and ponds, contributing significantly to the total fish production.

Aquaculture, particularly in freshwater ponds, has seen rapid growth, with species like carp, catfish, and prawns being commonly farmed.

• India is the 3rd largest fish producing and 2nd largest aquaculture nation in the world after China.
• The Blue Revolution in India demonstrated the importance of the Fisheries and Aquaculture sector.
• The sector is considered a sunrise sector and is poised to play a significant role in the Indian economy shortly.
• In the recent past, Indian fisheries have witnessed a paradigm shift from marine-dominated fisheries to inland fisheries, with the latter emerging as a major contributor of fish production from 36% in the mid-1980s to 70% in the recent past.
• Within inland fisheries, a shift from capture to culture-based fisheries has paved the way for a sustained blue economy.

Inland Aquaculture:

• Fish production in India has witnessed tremendous growth by showcasing a production increase from 7.5 Lakhs MT during 1950-51 to the current production of 141 Lakhs MT.
• However due to the practice of science-based fisheries, Inland fisheries in India have seen a turnaround and presently contribute ~70 % of total fish production.

Tanks and Ponds:

• India has around 2.36 million Ha of Tanks & Ponds area where culture-based fishery is predominant and contributes to the maximum share of total fish production.
• The current production from tanks and ponds is 8.5 million MT. As a major contributor towards production, the Department has prioritized expanding the horizontal area under tanks and ponds to achieve a target production of 135 Lakhs MT.

Brackish and saline aquaculture:

• Brackish/Saline water aquaculture has gained great momentum in India. India’s export growth story is primarily due to the success of brackish water aquaculture of shrimp.
• Brackish water aquaculture offers huge potential as the country has around 1.42 million Ha of brackish/saline area, of which only ~13% is utilized. To harness its potential, the Department has focused on increasing current fish production.
• Additionally, Saline water aquaculture is being promoted to transform ‘Wasteland to Wetlands’ by increasing the aquaculture area from 13 thousand Ha to 58 thousand Ha by FY2024-25.

Cold water fisheries:

• India is bestowed with vast and varied cold water resources with valuable Indigenous fish germplasm and pristine water with a range of thermal regimes. Hence the Himalayan states offer a unique value proposition in Cold Water Fisheries.
• Additionally, cold water fisheries are being promoted as a niche market by promotion of omega-packed trouts in all Himalayan States/UTs by targeting 10 thousand MT of Trout production.

Ornamental Fisheries:

• Ornamental fisheries have immense export potential, it is a multi-billion industry spread across more than 125 countries with trade at retail level worth US $10 billion.
• To put India at the forefront of ornamental fisheries, the Department is making efforts for holistic development of the sector through the creation of ornamental fish clusters in selected inland and marine areas.
• Focus is also being given to promoting public-private partnerships for the establishment of various fish production units to make the sector vibrant and remunerative.
• The potential states identified for the development of Ornamental Fisheries are West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, Odisha, Gujarat, Karnataka, Assam and Manipur.

Cage Culture in Reservoirs:

• Reservoirs are generally referred to as ‘sleeping giants’ as despite the large area covered cage culture contributes to ~3.81% of the total inland fish production.
• Hence the Department aims at harnessing the potentiality of 3.54 million Ha of reservoirs under PMMSY.
• Many measures have been taken for the promotion of cage culture in reservoirs in a sustainable manner for optimizing production through culture-based fisheries in small and medium reservoirs.

Riverine Fisheries:

• India is bestowed with 14 major, 44 medium, and numerous minor rivers that run through 2.52 lakh km contributing to current production of 1 Lakh ton.
• For optimally harnessing the potential of riverine fisheries, the Department is focusing on the conservation of indigenous fisheries resources and restoration of natural productivity by the practice of river ranching and 41 Conservation and Awareness in Riverine Fisheries program sanctioned under Blue Revolution in 9 States /UTs.

Natural Wetlands:

• The natural wetlands of the country are being developed by keeping the ecological integrity of important natural wetlands through the promotion of sustainable fishing practices thus contributing to the current production of 2.03 lakh tons through 5.5. lakh Ha available area.
• States like Bihar, UP, Assam and Manipur are being focused upon and efforts are ongoing to enhance production, and diversification of species and ensure that the connectivity between natural wetlands and rivers is restored as a good health indicator.

Challenges

• Overfishing: Excessive exploitation of marine resources has led to a decline in fish stocks in certain areas.
• Pollution: Water pollution from industrial, agricultural, and domestic sources affects fish habitats and health.
• Climate Change: Rising sea temperatures, changing monsoon patterns, and ocean acidification pose significant threats to marine and coastal ecosystems.
• Infrastructure: There is a need for better cold storage, processing, and transportation facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.

Government Initiatives

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Launched in 2020, this scheme aims to enhance fish production and productivity, modernize the sector, and increase the income of fishers and fish farmers.
• Blue Revolution: Focuses on sustainable development of the fisheries sector through improved infrastructure, technology adoption, and better resource management.
• National Fisheries Policy: This aims to provide a comprehensive framework for the development and management of fisheries, addressing issues like conservation, sustainable fishing, and the welfare of fishing communities.

Efforts are being made to promote responsible fishing practices, habitat restoration, and conservation of fish biodiversity. Aquaculture is being promoted as a sustainable alternative to reduce pressure on wild fish stocks.

Conclusion

India’s fisheries sector has immense growth potential, given the country’s vast marine and inland water resources.

However, addressing the challenges of sustainability, infrastructure, and climate change is essential to ensure long-term benefits for the economy and livelihoods dependent on this sector.

Related articles:

• Blue Economy 2.0
• Deep sea fishing and its effects
• Blue food

-Article by Swathi Satish