Fisheries & Aquaculture

India being an agrarian country with over 70% people depending on agriculture for food/livelihoods, agriculture/allied sub-sectors get much importance. India with huge aquatic resources has registered a phenomenal growth in fisheries production with 10.8 million tons (mt) in 2015-16 (6.4% of world’s total fish) from mere 0.75 mt in 1950-51, which is 14-fold increase. Being one of the top fish producers and 2nd in aquaculture production in world, India earns about US$ 5 billion (2015-16) through exports (10% of total export and 20% of Agriculture export). Also, fisheries support 15 million people for food/livelihoods and contributes 1.1% to total India’s GDP (5.3% to Agriculture GDP). Presently, freshwater fisheries is growing faster as compared to marine fisheries. About 3.58mt (2015-16, 33% of total) against estimated potential, 4.41mt marine fish produced and rest (67%) came from freshwater. Of late, aquaculture contribution outweighed capture fisheries. Despite growth, India presently produces 10 times lower than China (leading fish producer) and stands around 136th-rank in per capita fish consumption with 9kg amongst 160 countries of world. India invests more on research and technological advancements to improve fish production and meet projected demand, 15mt fish by 2020 with 8% annual growth rate. Asian carps including Indian (Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala) and Chinese carps (Cyprinus carpio, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) besides catfish (Pangasius pangasius) and cichlid (Tilapia sp.) in warm water and trout (Salmo trutto fario, Oncorhynchus mykiss), mahseer (Tor putitora), and Indian trout (Schizothorax richardsonii) in coldwater; shrimps (Penaeus monodon, P. indicus and P. vannamei), seabass (Lates calcarifer) in coasts and cobia (Rachycentron canadum), pompano (Trachinotus mookalee) and groupers (Epinephelus sp.) in marine environments are some of the species that are currently cultivated/promoted. Effective utilization of unutilized/under-utilized resources through modern farming systems, mobilizing farmers/stakeholders, technological innovations and policy/support mechanisms are some of ongoing thrusts.