Fisheries and the Blue Economy

India's fisheries sector

Production: India is the world's third-largest fish producer and the second-largest aquaculture producer. Fish production reached about 195 lakh tonnes (19.5 million tonnes) in 2023–24. About 75% of it now comes from inland fisheries and aquaculture, a major shift from marine capture.

Livelihoods: the sector supports about 3 crore people, mostly in coastal and riverine communities.

Exports: marine exports were about ₹60,000 crore (about $7.4 billion) in 2023–24. Frozen shrimp is the top item, mostly farmed vannamei shrimp. The US is the top destination, followed by China, the EU and Japan. US tariff increases in 2025 hit shrimp exporters, a development still evolving.

Leading states: Andhra Pradesh leads total and inland production (shrimp aquaculture), followed by West Bengal, Karnataka, Odisha and Gujarat. Gujarat and Kerala lead marine capture.

Inland vs marine fisheries

Inland:

• capture from rivers, reservoirs and floodplain wetlands;
• culture in ponds and tanks;
• coldwater fisheries (trout in Himalayan states);
• brackish water aquaculture (shrimp in coastal ponds).

Growth drivers: carp polyculture (catla, rohu, mrigal) and shrimp farming.

Constraints: seed quality, feed costs, disease outbreaks (white spot in shrimp), antibiotic residues (which can lead to export rejections), and pollution of rivers.

Marine:

• India's EEZ is about 2.02 million sq km, with a coastline of about 11,098 km;
• the estimated sustainable potential of marine fisheries is about 5.3 million tonnes (2018 revalidation);
• about 4 million fishers depend on marine fisheries.

Issues:

• overfishing in near-shore waters (bottom trawling);
• declining catch of species like oil sardine (affected by warming and El Niño);
• conflicts with Sri Lanka over Palk Bay fishing and the arrests of Tamil Nadu fishers;
• illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by foreign fleets;
• deep-sea fishing capacity that is underused.

Conservation:

• a uniform fishing ban of 61 days during the monsoon breeding season on both coasts: 15 April–14 June on the east coast and 1 June–31 July on the west coast;
• mesh size regulations and protection of breeding grounds;
• Marine Protected Areas, such as the Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve.

Policy framework

Department of Fisheries: set up as a separate department in 2019, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY, 2020): ₹20,050 crore, the largest investment in the sector, running from 2020–21 to 2024–25 and extended. Its targets:

• 22 million tonnes of production;
• doubling exports;
• reducing post-harvest losses from about 25% to 10%.

It supports fishing harbours, cold chains, seaweed farming, ornamental fisheries, cage culture in reservoirs, deep-sea vessels and fishers' insurance. The PM Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (2024) is a sub-scheme for formalising the sector.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF, 2018): about ₹7,522 crore, extended in 2023.

Kisan Credit Card for fishers (2018–19).

Seaweed: the Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu and seaweed cultivation in the Gulf of Mannar and Lakshadweep promote women's livelihoods. Seaweed is also used for bio-stimulants, food and pharmaceuticals.

Deep-sea fishing: the 2025–26 Budget announced a framework for sustainable fishing in the EEZ and high seas, with a focus on Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep.

Blue economy

The blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for growth, livelihoods and ocean health. It covers:

• fisheries;
• shipping and ports;
• coastal tourism;
• offshore energy (oil, gas and wind);
• deep-sea minerals;
• marine biotechnology.

India's initiatives:

• the draft Blue Economy Policy (2021), with seven thematic areas;
• the Deep Ocean Mission (2021, ₹4,077 crore), which includes the Samudrayaan manned submersible Matsya 6000, designed to reach 6,000 m, and deep-sea mining technology for polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin, where India holds an ISA exploration contract;
• Sagarmala;
• the SAGAR doctrine (2015), upgraded to MAHASAGAR (2025);
• coastal zone management under CRZ rules (2019);
• ISA contracts for exploration in the Indian Ocean (polymetallic sulphides in the Carlsberg Ridge, 2024 applications).

WTO fisheries subsidies: the MC12 agreement (2022) prohibits subsidies for IUU fishing and for fishing overfished stocks. It entered into force in September 2025 after two-thirds of members accepted it. India has argued for special treatment for small-scale fishers and for a longer transition, and is negotiating "fish 2" rules on overcapacity subsidies, which mostly affect large distant-water fleets.

Analysis

Opportunities: inland aquaculture can grow fast with good seed, feed and extension, giving protein and income to rural households. Marine exports can rise with traceability and quality certification.

Risks:

• Ecological: mangrove loss to shrimp farms, pollution, overfishing.
• Climate: warming seas, cyclones and coral bleaching.
• Social: livelihoods of traditional fishers against mechanised fleets; coastal displacement from ports and tourism.

Ecosystem-based fisheries management and co-management with fisher communities offer a balanced path.

Common prelims traps

• Inland fisheries now produce most of India's fish.
• Andhra Pradesh leads fish production.
• Matsya 6000 is a submersible, not a fishing scheme.
• The monsoon fishing ban dates differ on the east and west coasts.

Quick self-test

1. *What is the PMMSY production target?* 22 million tonnes.
2. *Name the Indian carps used in polyculture.* Catla, rohu and mrigal.
3. *What does the Deep Ocean Mission explore?* Deep-sea minerals, biodiversity and ocean technology, including a manned submersible.

Practice: Mains question

*"India's fisheries sector has shifted from marine capture to inland aquaculture." Discuss the implications for sustainability and livelihoods. (250 words)*

Fishers' welfare and livelihood security

Vulnerabilities: fishers face seasonal unemployment (during the ban), weather risk (cyclones and rough seas), indebtedness to boat owners and traders, and displacement from coastal development.

Support:

• livelihood and nutritional support during the ban period under PMMSY;
• group accident insurance;
• housing;
• distress alert transmitters and satellite-based communication, such as NavIC messaging devices given to fishers to receive cyclone warnings and potential fishing zone advisories;
• INCOIS, which issues Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories from satellite data on sea surface temperature and chlorophyll. These save fuel and time.

Rights: the National Fisheries Policy (2020 draft) and community rights under CRZ rules, which protect traditional fishing villages.

Ornamental fisheries and new frontiers

• Ornamental fish exports, with potential in the North-East and Kerala.
• Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and biofloc technology, which allow high-density fish farming with little water and land, even in urban areas.
• Cage culture in reservoirs (Jharkhand has been a leader).
• Mariculture of cobia and pompano in sea cages.

These diversify incomes but need investment and technical support.

Key terms

• EEZ: the zone up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline, where a coastal state has sovereign rights over resources.
• Maximum sustainable yield: the largest catch that can be taken without depleting the stock.
• IUU fishing: illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Quick self-test (more)

1. *Why does inland aquaculture raise mangrove concerns?* Shrimp ponds have been built by clearing coastal mangroves.
2. *What does INCOIS provide to fishers?* Potential Fishing Zone advisories and ocean state forecasts.

• Polyculture: growing several compatible fish species in one pond, so that each uses a different feeding zone.