An Overview of India’s fisheries sector

With a coastline of 8,118 Km India is surrounded by three prominent water bodies around its southern
periphery and bestowed with large natural lakes and reservoirs making fisheries and aquaculture a
prominent source of employment providing a livelihood to around 16 million fishers and fish farmers at
the primary level and almost twice the number along the value chain.

India is rich in terms of Fisheries resources having lakes, ponds, rivers, reservoirs, and a vast coastline.

Area under Inland Resources (in million ha) Area under Marine Resources (in million sq. Km)
0.8 0.19

0.
1.24 Reserviors 53 EEZ (Exclusive
3.15 Ponds and tanks Economic Zone)
Brackish water Continental shelf
Flood plain lakes Territorial Sea

2.
2.41 02

Source: dof.gov.in Source: dof.gov.in

Production status of Indian fisheries
India is the 3rd largest fish-producing country in the world accounting for 7.96% of global production
registering an impressive average annual growth of 7.53% from 2014-15 to 2018-19, standing at an all-
time high production of 14.73 MMT in 2020-21. Out of total fish production, Inland fish production
constitutes 76% making India 2ndlargest aquaculture fish producer in the world.

India’s estimated total fisheries potential is 22.31 MMT consisting of Marine fisheries potential at 5.31
MMT and Inland Fisheries potential at 17 MMT.

Total Fish Production

16 14.16 14.73
13.57
14 12.7
In Milion Metric Tonne

12 10.76 11.43
9.58 10.26
10 8.67 9.04
8
6
4
2
0
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
Year

Source: dof.gov.in
Fish Diversity in India
India constitutes more than 10% of the global fish and shellfish biodiversity, accounting for 2799 fish
species as per the database of the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Lucknow.

Composition of Fish Species in India Composition of Native Species

291

877
Marine
Native
Brackish
Exotic
Freshwater

151
8
113
2508

Carps constitute over 85% of total aquaculture production comprising Catla, Rohu, and Mrigal while in
Source: nbfgr.res.in Source: nbfgr.res.in
the marine front Sardines occupy a prominent
position comprising 20% of production
followed by Anchovies and Mackerels.

Contribution to Export basket

Fisheries play an important role in the national economy as an important source of foreign exchange
earnings. It presently constitutes the largest group in agricultural exports accounting for 17.63% and
10% of the total exports. India is the world’s 4 th largest exporter of seafood products accounting for
4.35% of total global exports. Government sets a target to enhance the export of fisheries products to 1
lakh crore by FY 2025.

Marine exports value in Rs. Crore

50000 45106.9 46589.4 46662.9
43717.3
45000
40000 37870.9
35000 33441.6
30213.3 30420.8
30000
25000
18856.3
20000 16597.2
15000
10000
5000
0
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
Year

Source: mpeda.gov.in
 Marine products Quantity in MT
1600000
1377244 1392559
1400000 1289651
1200000 1134948 1149341
983756 1051243
1000000 928215 945892
862021
800000
600000
400000
200000
0
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
Year

Government initiatives and support to the fisheries sector

Financial Allocation & Expenditures to Fisheries Sector

1600

1400

1200

1000
In INR Crores

800

600

400

200

0
2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22

Source: www.indiabudget.gov.in

In May 2020, the Department of Fisheries launched Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
which aims to increase fish production to 22 MMT by 2024-25 and to increase aquaculture productivity
to 5 tons per ha up from a national average of 3 tons per hectares with an estimated budget of Rs
20,050 crores for a period of Five years FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.
The scheme also provides Insurance coverage to men or women fishers aged 18 to 70 years under the
Group Accident Insurance scheme (GAIS).

In FY 2018-19 a Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) was created with a
fund size of Rs 7,522.48 crores to provide concessional loans to State Gov and UT for the development
of identified fisheries infrastructure facilities.

Fish as a source to fight Malnutrition

Apart from being a sunrise sector in the allied agriculture economy, Fish is a good, cheap source of
animal proteins. According to National Family Health Survey-4 data, the amount of stunting, wasting,
and underweight children in India are 38.4%, 21%, and 35.7% respectively. Indian population majorly
suffers from protein and micronutrient deficiencies.

Fish often referred to as “Rich Food for Poor People” consists of omega-3 fatty acids, important
vitamins, micronutrients, and all eight essential amino acids, that can play a crucial role in tackling the
problem of malnutrition for future generations.

By Mayank Sharma