India is the second largest fish producing country with around 8% share in global fish production. Over the past two decades, India’s fisheries sector has witnessed significant growth and transformation. 

-From technological advancements to policy reforms, the period from 2004 to 2024 has been marked by milestones that have bolstered India’s position in global fisheries and aquaculture.

Fisheries sector Data & Significance :

-Growth  -India’s total fish production increased by 104% from 96 lakh tonnes (2013–14) to 195 lakh tonnes (2024–25).Inland fisheries led this growth, rising by 

142% from 61 lakh tonnes to 147.37 lakh tonnes.

-Contribution to GDP – Fisheries contributes 1.1% to India’s total GDP and 7.3% to agricultural GDP.

-Employment -The fisheries sector provides livelihoods to about 28-30 million employees (women 55-62%, processing 62%) – supports rural economy and food security.

-Types-Inland fisheries, driven largely by aquaculture expansion, contribute about 75% of India’s total fish production, while marine fisheries—dominated by coastal capture fishing—exhibit relatively stable growth.

-Export – India’s fishers exported seafood worth ₹62,408 crore, contributing around 8 % to the country’s agricultural exports.

Challenges : 

• Post-harvest losses: 20–25% of fish catch is lost due to poor cold storage; losses are 9.3% in marine and 8.84% in inland fisheries .
• Single-species risk: 90% of inland fish production comes from Indian Major Carps, which are vulnerable to Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) outbreaks.
• Climate change impact: Rising sea temperatures (0.5–1°C) and cyclones reduce fishing days by about 20% each year.
• Marine overfishing: 60% of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) stocks are exploited; marine landings have stayed around 48 lakh tonnes since FY20.
• Credit access gap: Only 20% of 2.4 crore fishers have Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs); coverage of women fishers is below 10%.

Major Schemes

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)– (2020, ₹20,050 cr) to boosts fish production, modernizes fisheries, and creates jobs. It funds aquaculture, post-harvest infrastructure, and fisher welfare. Key support includes cage culture, biofloc, RAS, and insurance for cooperatives, SHGs, and entrepreneurs.
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) a sub-scheme under PMMSY supports fishers through credit access and infrastructure.
• Union Budget 2025–26 allocated a record ₹2,704 crore to the fisheries sector.
• 4.76 lakh Kisan Credit Cards were issued to fishers and fish farmers .
• Over 26 lakh stakeholders registered on the National Fisheries Digital Platform. It is a centralised portal developed under PM-MKSSY to help transition the fisheries sector from unorganised to organised, making it easier for fishers to access loans, insurance, and other services.

Way forward 

• Unified legal framework: Introduce a national fisheries code with standard rules on minimum landing size (MLS), gear restrictions, seasonal bans, and scientific catch limits.
• Global cooperation: Strengthen partnerships through IORA and FAO to tackle Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and promote shared marine resources.
• Value addition: Move from exporting raw frozen shrimp to processed and ready-to-eat seafood to increase profits and reduce tariff risks..
• Exporter support: Improve aquaculture insurance, disease monitoring, and cold-chain infrastructure through PMMSY to stabilize incomes and reduce risks.