India Fisheries and Aquaculture: Growth, Schemes, Challenges
Why in the news
A review of Indian fisheries and aquaculture showed rapid growth and policy reform alongside sustainability worries.
Key facts
- Output is up roughly seven-fold since the 1980s, mainly through inland aquaculture.
- India ranks 2nd in aquaculture after China, at 23 million tonnes (FAO SOFIA 2024).
- Marine exports grew 8%, from USD 0.81 bn to USD 0.90 bn (Oct 2024 to Oct 2025).
- 30 million livelihoods depend on it; 3,477 coastal villages yield 72% of output.
| Initiative | Details |
|---|---|
| PMMSY | ₹20,312 crore (2020-26): cold storage, transport, kiosks |
| Coastal villages | 100 villages with cyclone-resilient housing and early warning |
| EEZ Rules 2025 | Cooperatives first, digital Access-Pass, ban on destructive methods |
| Marine Fisheries Census 2025 | 2 million households, 5,000 villages |
| FIDF | ₹7,522 crore; 178 projects approved by July 2025 |
FAO partnership
- Earlier programmes: BOBP and BOBLME.
- Now: GEF-funded sustainable aquaculture project in Andhra Pradesh, plus a fishing-ports programme piloted at Vanakbara and Jakhau.
Concerns
- Overfishing, habitat loss and illegal fishing.
- Post-harvest losses of 15-20%; weak credit and insurance access.
Way forward
- Science-based stock management, deep-sea expansion, traceability, biosecurity, resilient harbours.
Exam angle
- Flagship scheme: PMMSY; infrastructure fund: FIDF.