Innovative production techniques to boost Fisheries productivity

The Indian economy depends heavily on the fishing industry.

- Suchetana Choudhury

In addition to creating jobs, it supports exports, national income, and food and nutritional security. About 30 million people in India depend on the fishing industry, known as the "Sunrise Sector," to support their livelihoods, especially those of the weaker and marginalized populations. The Indian government has implemented a number of measures to improve fisheries productivity and production. As a result, the country's total fish production (inland and marine) increased from 95.79 lakh tonnes in FY 2013-14 to 175.45 lakh tonnes in FY 2022-23. By March 2025, the country hopes to have increased its total fish production to 220 lakh tonnes.

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), implemented from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 20,050 crore, has witnessed remarkable progress in boosting fish production, infrastructure development, and employment generation in the country. The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has set an ambitious target of boosting seafood exports to Rs 1 lakh crore by 2029 against current export value worth Rs 60,000 crore in the previous fiscal year. The country therefore not only contributes significantly to both domestic and global food baskets but also supports the livelihoods of around 30 million people in rural India in the capacity of the 3rd largest fish producer, 2nd largest aquaculture nation in the world after China and the largest producer of shrimp.

A study by Global Seafood Alliance mentions that despite being the third largest fish-producing nation in the world, India is positioned 129th among 183 countries in terms of per capita fish food supply. The study further projects the fish consumption patterns in India to double and reach 26.50 million metric tonnes (MT) between 2047 and 2048, with annual per capita fish consumption expected to reach 16.07 kg.