Fisheries

Constituting about 5.68% of the global fish production, India today is the second largest fish
producing nation in the world. India is also a major producer of fish through aquaculture and
ranks second in the world after China.
India with a fishermen population of 14.5 million and a coastal line of 8118 kilometers can rise to
be a major player in the world fisheries. India also has a fleet of 200,000 fishing vessels and
exported fish worth 5 billion USD in 2013-14.
India has a vast area of unutilized and untapped Inland water resources and is short of for quality
fish seed and formulated fish feed.
Even though the per capita income consumption in the world for fish is 18 kilograms per annum,
India stands at 8 kilograms.
As per the latest FAO statistics released in 2014 (The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture
2014), the global fish production has reached to 158 MT, with food fish supply increasing at an
average annual rate of 3.2 percent, outpacing world population growth at 1.6 percent. India
currently produces 9.58 MT of fish out of which 64% of production is Inland and 36% is from
marine sources.
In India, fisheries is recognized as a powerful income and employment generator as it stimulates
growth of a number of subsidiary sectors. Fisheries in both inland and marine waters have been
contributing as an important source of livelihood and supplies nutritious protein for the growing
population.
With exponential increase in human populations, the food demand, shrinkage of cultivable land
and decline in the agricultural productivity, role of fisheries sector to fulfill the growing demand
for food is of paramount importance for nutritional security. From a mere traditional activity
years ago, the fisheries sector has transformed into a significant commercial enterprise with an
impressive growth in recent times.

Fisheries scenario in India

The fish production has increased since 1990-91 from 3.84 MT in 1990-91 to 9.58 MT in 2013-14.
The growth in fish production has shown a cyclical pattern with an increasing long term trend.
However, a constant growth has been observed in marine sector since 2008-09.
The historical scenario of Indian fisheries reveals a paradigm shift from marine dominated
fisheries to a scenario where inland fisheries has emerged as a major contributor to the overall
fish production in the country. Inland fisheries presently has a share of 64.09% in total fish
production of the country.
Within inland fisheries, there is a shift from capture fisheries to aquaculture during the last two
and a half decade. Freshwater aquaculture with a share of 34% in inland fisheries in mid-1980s
has increased to about 80% in recent years. It has emerged as a major fish producing system in
India as a result of initiatives taken by the Government during the past three decades.
Fish Farmers Development Agencies (FFDA) were set up in each district for delivering a package
of technologies, practices, training and extension and for providing financial assistance to the
beneficiaries. So far 429 FFDAs functioning in the country have brought about 0.65 million ha of
water area under fish farming and reached out to 1.1 million beneficiaries and imparted training
to about 0.8 million fishers. Currently the average annual yield is around 3.0 tonnes/ha.

Suggestions

It has been observed that inland fishery today is dominated mainly by the freshwater fishery. In
order to enhance production, there is a need for diversification of fish production in other areas
like integrated fish farming, cold water fisheries, riverine fisheries, capture fisheries, brackish
water fisheries etc. The recent measures therefore have targeted Intensive Aquaculture in ponds
and tanks through integrated fish farming, carp polyculture, freshwater prawn culture, running
water fish culture and development of riverine fisheries.
Expansion of area under aquaculture has to become an important option to boost fish production.
In this context, derelict water bodies could be immensely useful and could be an important
resource to boost fish production for meeting the future fish demand of the country. Bringing
these water bodies into the ambit of fisheries will boost fish production tremendously. Reservoir
Fisheries Development Reservoirs, which are largely untapped in India, have great potential for
development of fisheries. By promoting technologies like cage culture the productivity of the
reservoirs can be enhanced manifolds. Due to large initial investment, this technology has so far
not been successfully implemented in India.
The Government recognizes the need for availability of quality seed and feed for sustained growth
in inland fish production in the long run. As per an estimate, the total fish seed required for

optimal stocking in the existing ponds, new ponds and reservoirs is about 48,000 million fry. As
against this, the current seed production is about 41,450 million fry. Thus there is a gap of about
6,550 million fry. Setting up of brood banks and hatcheries across the country, therefore is a
priority area for the department.
Responsible aquaculture and prevention and management of aquatic diseases, organic farming,
and induced breeding are some of the other challenges to be addressed in this sector for
improving productivity.

New Initiatives
In compliance with the Budget announcements made in the Budget speech 2014-15, National Fisheries
Development Board will implement Blue Revolution Inland Fisheries which aims to enhance fish
production in the Country. It has provision of R50.00 crore during 2014-15. The Blue Revolution
envisages transformation of the fisheries sector with increased investment, better training and
development of infrastructure. Blue Revolution will focus on construction of new fishing harbours,
modernization of fishing boats, imparting training to fishermen, and above all promote fishing as a selfemployment activity.
The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), nodal agency for promotion of marine
exports from India, has launched two mobile based applications, which would help farmers get prices on
shrimp and capture data on aquaculture through mobile. MPEDA is providing price related market
information of Vannamei and Black Tiger shrimp to farmers. The farmers have to give a missed call to a
predetermined number and they will get the prices of various grades of these two shrimp varieties in
major markets such as Japan, the U.S. and EU through an SMS. MPEDA would provide the service free of
cost to farmers all over India and would enable them to make an informed decision on harvest of their
produce and get better price realization.
MPEDA has launched an Android-based mobile app called mKrishi, which will enable farmers get expert
guidance on all operations, besides helping with book keeping and weather information. mKrishi is under
pilot in Gujarat and will be extended all over India.

On-going Schemes on Fisheries of the Department

Development of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture

Centrally Sponsored Scheme
The scheme covers all the inland fishery resources available in the country in the form of fresh
water, brackish water, cold water, water logged areas, saline/alkaline soils for aquaculture and
capture fisheries including reservoirs.
Seven components: Development of Freshwater Aquaculture, Development of Brackish water
Aquaculture, Coldwater Fisheries and Aquaculture, Development of Waterlogged Areas,
Productive Utilization of Inland Saline/ Alkaline soils for Aquaculture, Integrated Development of
Inland Capture Resources (reservoirs/rivers etc), Innovative Projects

Development of Marine Fisheries, Infrastructure and Post-Harvest Operations

Department extends financial assistance for the development of marine sector and for improving
the socioeconomic conditions of the traditional fishermen.

The scheme has three major components viz; Development of Marine Fisheries, Development of
Infrastructure and Post Harvest Operations and Innovative activities.

National Scheme for Welfare of Fishermen

Basic amenities such as housing, drinking water, construction of community hall and tube wells
are provided for fishermen in their fishing village. Insurance coverage to fishermen engaged
actively in fishing and financial assistance during lean fishing season is also provided to
fishermen.

The scheme is being operated with the following four components: Development of Model
Fishermen Villages (provides for low cost hoses to Below Poverty Line fishermen), Group
Accident Insurance for active Fishermen, Saving-cum-Relief (provides financial support to
fishermen during fishing ban period), Training & Extension
Strengthening of Database and Geographical Information System for Fisheries Sector
Central Sector Scheme
The Scheme consists of following components: a) Sample Survey for Estimation of Inland Fishery
Resources and their Potential, b) Census on Marine Fisheries, c) Catch Assessment Survey for
Inland and Marine Fisheries, d) Development of GIS, e) Development of database of fishery
cooperatives of India, f) Mapping of smaller water bodies and development of GIS based fishery
management system g) Strengthening of Statistical Unit at Headquarter, h) Evaluation
Studies/Professional services and i) Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS)

National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB)

Set up in September, 2006, with its headquarters at Hyderabad to realize the untapped potential
of fisheries sector in inland and marine fish capture, culture, processing & marketing of fish, and
overall growth of fisheries sector with the application of modern tools of research & development
including biotechnology for optimizing production and productivity form fisheries. The activities
of the Board are focused towards increasing the fish production and productivity in the country,
to enhance the exports of fish and fishery products and to provide employment to more than 3.5
million persons by extending assistance to various agencies for implementation of activities. It
also acts as a platform for public-private partnership for fisheries.
Objectives:
(i)To bring major activities relating to fisheries and aquaculture for focused attention and
professional management
(ii) To coordinate activities pertaining to fisheries undertaken by different
Ministries/Departments in the Central Government and also coordinate with the State/Union
Territory Governments
(iii) To improve production, processing, storage, transport and marketing of the products of
capture and culture fisheries
(iv) To achieve sustainable management and conservation of natural aquatic resources including
the fish stocks

(v) To apply modern tools of research and development including biotechnology for optimizing
production and productivity from fisheries
(vi) To provide modern infrastructure mechanisms for fisheries and ensure their effective
management and optimum utilization
(vii) To generate substantial employment
(viii) To train and empower women in the fisheries sector
(ix) To enhance contribution of fish towards food and nutritional security
National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) has set up the following fish brood banks:
(i) National Freshwater Fish Brood Bank (NFFBB) at Bhubaneswar for production of quality and
improved fish seed in substantial quantity using latest technologies.
(ii) Assisted in setting up of fresh water prawn (Scampi) brood bank at College of Fisheries, Nellore,
Andhra Pradesh
(iii) Assisted in setting up of brood bank for common carp (Amur) at Karnataka Veterinary, Animal &
Fisheries Sciences University, Bengaluru.
The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture under the Central
Schemes such as (i) NFDB, (ii) Development of Marine Fisheries, Infrastructure and Post Harvest
Operations and (iii) Development of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture assists States in creation of need
based infrastructure facilities including Andhra Pradesh for development of the fisheries sector. Besides,
the Department through the Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fishery(CICEF), Bengaluru also
extend technical assistance to the coastal State Governments in planning and designing of fishing
harbours and fish landing centres.

Exports

Frozen shrimp continued to be the major export item in the export basket in terms of quantity
and value, accounting for a share of 34.01 % in quantity and 67.19% of the total USD earnings.
The contribution of cultured shrimp to the total shrimp export is 76.45% in terms of USD.
USA is the largest market (1, 12,702 MT) for frozen shrimp exports in quantity terms followed by
European Union (81,952 MT), South East Asia (69,068MT) and Japan (30,434 MT). Major

shrimp producing states AP, Gujarat, TN, Orissa, Maharashtra

Major varieties - Black Tiger Shrimp, Vannamei Shrimp, Scampi

Fish, is the second largest export item, accounting for a share of about 29.44% in quantity and
11.24% in USD earnings.

Outlook for 2015-16

MPEDA envisages export of marine products worth USD 6.6 billion during the year 2015- 16. Increased
production of L. Vannamei shrimp, diversification of Aquaculture species particularly of Tilapia and
Mangrove crab, Quality control measures and increase in infrastructure facilities for production of value
added items are expected to help in achieving this target.