Inland fisheries: India begins drafting small-scale fisheries NPOA
Why in the news
On 23 October 2026 India began the development phase of a separate National Plan of Action (NPOA) for small-scale inland fisheries. It was launched at a two-day national workshop in Bhopal, and the plan is due to be launched publicly next month.
Key facts
- Led by: the Union Department of Fisheries together with the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), under the framework of the FAO.
- Launched by: Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries.
- Scope: rivers, canals, reservoirs, lakes, floodplain wetlands, tanks and cold-water systems.
- Themes: fishing rights, decent work, gender equality, value chains, and disaster and climate resilience, including falling oxygen levels in water bodies.
- The plan will be finalised after consultations with stakeholders.
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Annual fish production | 19.7 million tonnes |
| Inland share | About three-fourths |
| Production target (5 years) | 30 million tonnes |
| Seafood exports (2025-26) | ₹73,890 crore |
| Export goal | ₹1.25 lakh crore |
About the context
On the same day, Bhopal hosted the Fisheries Investors and Exporters Conclave 2026. Data shared there put fish production in 2024-25 at 197.75 lakh tonnes, of which inland fisheries gave 151.60 lakh tonnes. India exports fish to 130 countries. The Department of Fisheries is part of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Exam angle
- Inland fisheries produce nearly three-fourths of India’s fish.
- The NPOA follows an FAO framework and is being developed with BOBP-IGO.
- Remember the production target of 30 million tonnes in five years.