India is the second largest fish producing country after China with around 8% share in global fish production.
Fisheries sector in India
- Fisheries is listed in the State List.
- However, the Union Government supplements the efforts of the States/UTs for development of the sector.
- Inland sector is by and large, fully in the domain of State Governments while Marine sector is a shared responsibility between the Central and Coastal State Governments.
- Inland fish production constitutes about 75% of the total fish production.
- Fisheries constitutes about 1.12 percent of the total national GVA and 7.26 percent of agricultural GVA.
- Around 30 million people involved in fish production across the value chain.
- The Union Budget 2025-26, proposed the highest ever total annual budgetary support for the fisheries sector.
Challenges of the Fisheries sector:
- Environmental: overfishing, habitat destruction and climate change.
- Economic: market fluctuations; Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and limited access.
- Social issues: food security, gender inequality and community displacement.
- Others: Infrastructure gaps, resource management issues, and the need for modernized fishing techniques.
Initiatives taken
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana: A Central Sector Sub-scheme under PMMSY.
- Aquaculture parks established under PMMSY
- Blue Revolution Scheme, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
- 5th Marine Fisheries Census for data-driven policymaking
- India’s endorsement to the Regional Plan of Action on IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) Fishing to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Bay of Bengal Region jointly in cooperation with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives.
