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.
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.
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.
Carps constitute over 85% of total aquaculture production comprising Catla, Rohu, and Mrigal while 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 4th 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.
Government initiatives and support to the fisheries sector
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.
