India Fisheries Sector: ₹2,761.80 Crore Budget for Blue Economy
Why in the news
The Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Ministry presented the sector’s shift towards an organised, technology-driven value chain, supported by a record allocation in the 2026-27 Budget.
Key facts
- Budget 2026-27: record ₹2,761.80 crore.
- Rank: second-largest fish producer, 8% of world output.
- Production: 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024-25, a 106% rise over 2013-14.
- GVA: 7.43% of Agricultural GVA.
- Exports: ₹62,408 crore in 2025; frozen shrimp to the US and China dominate.
- NFDP: digital identities for over 30.60 lakh stakeholders.
- KCC: limit up to ₹5 lakh; 4.39 lakh fishers covered.
| Challenge | Planned response |
|---|---|
| Post-harvest loss from weak cold chains | Modernise harbours to meet international SPS standards |
| Overfishing near the shore | Subsidise advanced vessels for deep-sea fishing in the 24 lakh sq. km EEZ |
| Climate vulnerability (cyclones, warmer seas) | Enforce the 2025 Sustainable Fisheries Rules |
| Low inland productivity | Strengthen 2,195 FFPOs for collective bargaining |
About PMMSY technologies
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) drives the transformation.
- Bio-floc: microbes recycle waste into fish feed, allowing dense farming in small spaces.
- RAS: water is cleaned and recycled in a closed loop, which lowers the environmental footprint.
- National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP): work-based digital identities to ease access to credit and insurance, aiming to bring 3 crore fishers into the formal economy.
Exam angle
- Nodal ministry: Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
- Scheme: PMMSY; vision document: Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
- Related terms: Bio-floc, RAS, NFDP, EEZ, FFPO.