November 27, 2024
India emerges as global fisheries leader, doubling fish production
India's annual fish production has nearly doubled since 2014, reaching 17.5 million tonnes, with inland fishing contributing 13.2 million tonnes, surpassing marine fishing.
Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh shared these figures during his address on World Fisheries Day 2024.
The Minister highlighted that India is now the second-largest fish producer globally, accounting for 8% of the world's total fish production. The sector supports approximately 30 million people across the value chain.
Key government initiatives, such as the Blue Revolution, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSY), were credited for the significant boost in fish production. Singh acknowledged the contributions of fishermen and fish farmers in achieving these milestones.
As part of the celebrations, Singh launched several initiatives aimed at modernising the fisheries sector and bolstering India's blue economy. These included the 5th Marine Fisheries Census to enable data-driven policymaking, the National Plan of Action on Sharks for sustainable shark management, and India's endorsement of the Regional Plan of Action on IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) Fishing. This regional effort involves cooperation with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives.
Other measures unveiled included the IMO-FAO GloLitter Partnership Project to combat marine plastic litter and Standard Operating Procedures for retrofitted LPG kits to promote energy-efficient and cost-effective marine fishing fuels. The Coastal Aquaculture Authority introduced a New Single Window System (NSWS) for online registration of coastal aquaculture farms. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding was signed to implement a framework for the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), promoting carbon-sequestering practices in the fisheries sector.
The minister addressed challenges such as plastic pollution, carbon emissions from traditional fishing methods, and water pollution, underlining the government's efforts to improve water quality and adopt eco-friendly practices. He also stressed the need for reforms to address the unorganised nature of the sector and infrastructure gaps. Singh mentioned initiatives like the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) to address these issues and outlined a vision for sustainable growth, leveraging modern techniques and integrated policies to strengthen India's position as a global fisheries leader.
Manuel Barange, assistant director-general, and director of the Fisheries Division at FAO spoke during the event. He discussed global challenges such as hunger and malnutrition and emphasised the need for innovative solutions to address these issues. FAO's Blue Transformation Initiative was presented, focusing on sustainable aquaculture, effective fisheries management, and enhancing aquatic food value chains.
Outstanding contributions to the fisheries and aquaculture sector were recognised at the event. Kerala was awarded Best Marine State, Telangana was named Best Inland State, and Uttarakhand received the title of Best Himalayan and Northeastern State. Jammu & Kashmir was recognised as the Best Union Territory. Among districts, Kerala's Kollam won Best Marine District, Chhattisgarh's Kanker was named Best Inland District, Assam's Darrang received the Best Himalayan and Northeastern District award, and Kulgam in Jammu & Kashmir was honoured as the Best District in a Union Territory.
- Sambad English