FISHERY INDUSTRY

FISHERY INDUSTRY
 FISHERY INDUSTRY

● Fisheries and aquaculture play a crucial role in India by providing essential food
production, ensuring nutritional security, generating employment opportunities,
and contributing to income generation. The fisheries sector directly supports the
livelihoods of over 20 million fishermen and fish farmers. Additionally, it annually
adds INR 1.75 trillion to India's economy, making it a significant contributor to
the country's gross value. Furthermore, fish exports are a major source of
revenue for India, with fish being one of the vital agricultural commodities
exported from the country.
 FISHERY INDUSTRY

● The Neel Kranti Mission, also known as the Blue Revolution, aims to achieve
economic prosperity for India and the fishermen and fish farmers while ensuring
food and nutritional security. It focuses on sustainable utilization of water resources
for fisheries development, taking into consideration bio-security and
environmental concerns
Current Status of Indian Fisheries
● Fisheries are the primary means of livelihood for numerous communities.
● India is the second-largest fish producer globally, with exports valued at over
Rs 47,000 crore.
● Fisheries account for the largest agricultural export for the country, with a
growth rate of 6 to 10 percent over the past five years. In comparison, the
growth rate of the farm sector during the same period is approximately 2.5
percent.
● The marine fishermen population is 3.5 million, while 10.5 million people are
involved in inland fishery and fish farming.
Potential of the Fishing Industry in India

● The Blue Revolution initiative, is supplemented by the Fisheries and

Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund. This fund aims to meet the
capital investment requirements of the sector.
● Productivity in freshwater fish farms has increased to over 3 metric tonnes per
hectare, up from 2.5 tonnes per hectare previously.
● Brackish water coastal aquaculture has witnessed a significant increase in
productivity, reaching 10 to 12 metric tonnes per hectare compared to the
previous range of two to four tonnes per hectare.
Potential of the Fishing Industry in India

● The area under fish farming has expanded by 30,000 hectares.

● The government has made investments in hatcheries to meet the growing
demand for high-quality fish seed.
● The expansion of aquaculture would lead to a substantial increase in demand.
●
Potential of the Fishing Industry in India

● The introduction of cage culture in reservoirs and other open water bodies has
resulted in higher output. Around 8,000 cages have been installed, and
although each cage yields a modest three tonnes of fish, it represents a more
than 1,000 percent increase in productivity.
● This new practice provides fishermen with the freedom to avoid navigating
dangerous rivers and restricted reservoirs, reducing risks associated with
traditional fishing methods.
Potential of the Fishing Industry in India

● Marine fisheries
● Fisheries are of great importance in India, given its vast coastline of over 8,000
km, an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spanning over 2 million sq km, and
abundant freshwater resources. Currently, India is the world's second-largest
producer of fish and ranks second in aquaculture after China.
● Marine fisheries contribute to food security and provide direct employment to
over 1.5 million fishermen, along with other indirect dependents. There are 3,432
marine fishing villages and in 9 maritime states and 2 union territories.
Potential of the Fishing Industry in India

Inland fisheries
● India's freshwater resources comprise rivers and canals, reservoirs, ponds and
tanks, oxbow lakes and derelict waters, brackishwaters, and estuaries. The inland
capture fish production has increased from 192,000 tonnes in 1950 to 781,846
tonnes in 2007, with major species including cyprinids, siluroids, and murrels.
 Challenges

● Sustainability: Reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

indicate that nearly 90% of global marine fish stocks have been fully exploited,
overfished, or depleted beyond recovery. While coastal waters near the shore are
heavily overfished, high-value fish stocks are found in deep seas.
● Increasing demand: To meet the growing demand for animal protein, global fish
production should reach 196 million tonnes by 2025. However, the current
depletion rate of marine fish stocks makes achieving this target highly
challenging.
 Challenges

● Productivity: Both sectors, marine and inland, suffer from low

productivity in terms of yield per fisher, per boat, and per farm. In
comparison, fishermen/farmers in Norway catch/produce 250 kg of fish
per day, while the average in India is only four to five kg.
● Insufficient Mechanization: Marine capture fishery is predominantly
carried out by small fishermen using traditional boats, either
non-motorized vessels or those with basic outboard motors. These
vessels are limited to nearshore waters and cannot catch high-value
species like tuna.
 Challenge

● The lack of refrigeration facilities leads to spoilage of the catch, and the use of
formalin to preserve the stock has resulted in a ban on fish exports.