India is 2nd largest fish producing country in the world accounting for 7.96% of global production
India is the 2nd largest producer of fish in the world and about 68% of India’s fish comes from the aquaculture sector. In terms of employment, the sector supports the livelihood of over 28 mn people in India especially the marginalized and vulnerable communities. Export earnings from the fisheries sector was $6 bn during 2020-21.
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing a flagship scheme “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)- A scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India” with highest ever investment of INR 20,050 crore for a period of five years with effect from the financial year 2020-21 to 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories(UTs).
India’s top export destinations for fish and fish products are China, USA, Southeast Asia, European Union, and Japan.
- Fisheries sector has demonstrated an outstanding double-digit average annual growth of 10.87% since 2014-15 with record fish production of 147 lakh tons in FY 2020-21
- 76% of fish production was contributed by inland fisheries and the rest 24% was contributed by marine fisheries in FY 2020
- India has seen a 20X increase in fish production from 0.75 MMT in 1950-51 to 14.73 MMT during 2020
- 28 mn fishers and fish farmers are engaged at a primary level in the fisheries and aquaculture sector
100% FDI is allowed under the automatic route in pisciculture and aquaculture sector in India .