India’s Fisheries Sector:
India has emerged as the world’s 2nd-largest fish-producing nation (after China), accounting for approximately 8% of global output and establishing the fisheries sector as the fastest-growing segment within agriculture and allied activities.
- Fisheries account for 7.43% of Agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA), with total production doubling to 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024–25.
- Seafood exports reached Rs 62,408 crore in FY 2024–25, dominated by frozen shrimp, with the US and China as primary markets.
- The Union Budget 2026–27 allocated a record Rs 2,761 crore to the sector, with Rs 2,500 crore specifically earmarked for the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
- The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) and the extension of Kisan Credit Cards (KCC)—with limits raised to Rs 5 lakh—have institutionalized credit and boosted processing capabilities.
- Rapid adoption of high-efficiency models like Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and Bio-floc technology is driving sustainable, high-density farming.
- RAS is a high-density fish farming technology that uses a closed-loop filtration system to treat and continuously reuse water, minimizing environmental impact and land requirements.
- Bio-floc Technology is a sustainable aquaculture method where a carbon source is added to the water to grow beneficial microbial protein (floc), which simultaneously treats waste and serves as a direct food source for the fish.
- The National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP), launched in 2024, provides digital identities to over 30 lakh stakeholders, streamlining access to insurance and subsidies.
- The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), with an outlay of Rs 6,000 crore, focuses on formalizing the unorganized fisheries value chain and enhancing traceability.
- The Marine Fisheries Census 2025 and new rules for the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) ensure data-driven governance and alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
