Context

• Fisheries and aquaculture are among India’s most rapidly expanding food-producing sectors, supporting millions of livelihoods and contributing significantly to national nutrition and trade.
• In recent decades, the country has undergone a striking transformation in aquatic food production, fuelled by technological advancements, robust institutions, and forward-looking policy initiatives.
• As India marks World Fisheries Day 2025 under the theme India’s Blue Transformation: Strengthening Value Addition in Seafood Exports, the occasion highlights both achievements and the need for renewed commitment to sustainable growth.

Dramatic Growth, Major Factor Driving the Growth and Structural Transformation

• Dramatic Growth
  • The FAO’s State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 reports global aquaculture production at 130.9 million tonnes and global capture fisheries at 92.3 million tonnes in 2022.
  • India contributed 10.23 million tonnes to global aquaculture, making it the world’s second-largest producer.
  • National aquatic output has increased from 2.44 million tonnes in the 1980s to 17.54 million tonnes in 2022–23, reflecting long-term structural change.
• Major Factor Driving the Growth
  • This growth has been driven by the modernization of inland, coastal, and brackish-water aquaculture.
  • Agencies such as ICAR fisheries institutes, the Marine Products Export Development Authority, and the National Fisheries Development Board have promoted advancements in breeding, disease management, and post-harvest practices.
  • The Coastal Aquaculture Authority has strengthened environmental compliance, while private-sector investments across hatcheries, processing, and exports have enhanced value chain efficiency.
• Structural Transformation
  • Policy reforms over the past decade have accelerated this momentum.
  • The Blue Revolution and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) have expanded infrastructure, strengthened fisher safety, and supported digital and financial inclusion through initiatives such as vessel transponders, the Kisan Credit Card, and Matsya Seva Kendras.
  • Programmes for climate-resilient coastal villages and the draft National Fisheries Policy 2020 reflect India’s increasing focus on sustainability and resilience.

Enduring Challenges and Emerging Pressures

• Overfishing, habitat degradation, water pollution, and the impacts of climate change threaten aquatic ecosystems and the livelihoods dependent on them.
• These environmental pressures risk undermining long-term productivity and ecological stability.
• Socio-economic barriers further complicate progress. Small-scale fishers and farmers often lack access to capital, modern technologies, and remunerative markets.
• Weak traceability systems and inadequate post-harvest infrastructure limit India’s ability to realize the full potential of global and domestic market opportunities.
• These gaps also affect food safety and nutritional security, underscoring the need for systemic improvements in value chain governance.

FAO’s Partnership in India’s Blue Journey

• FAO’s Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) project advanced ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management, promoted science-based stock assessments, and strengthened India’s efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• These initiatives have helped balance conservation with sustainable utilization of marine resources.
• To support India’s expanding aquaculture sector, FAO is implementing a Global Environment Facility–funded project in Andhra Pradesh aimed at promoting climate-resilient, environmentally responsible aquaculture aligned with global sustainability guidelines.
• Additionally, a Technical Cooperation Programme is improving the environmental, social, and economic performance of Indian fishing ports, with pilot interventions in Vanakbara and Jakhau.
• These efforts collectively enhance institutional capacity and strengthen India’s aquatic value chain.

The Way Forward: Toward a Sustainable and Inclusive Blue Transformation

• As India deepens its Blue Transformation, sustainability must remain the guiding principle.
• Science-based stock assessments, ecosystem-based approaches in fisheries and aquaculture, and strengthened Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance systems are essential to safeguarding aquatic resources.
• Enhancing certification, traceability, and digital tools will improve the competitiveness of India’s seafood exports.
• Equally critical is empowering small-scale fishers and farmers by improving access to credit, technology, and markets.
• Their inclusion is vital for building a resilient and equitable aquatic food system.

Conclusion

• India stands at a pivotal moment in its fisheries and aquaculture development.
• With strong institutional support, transformative policies, and enduring collaboration with FAO, the country is well positioned to lead global efforts toward sustainable aquatic food production.
• By placing sustainability and inclusivity at the heart of its Blue Transformation, India can secure ecological health, economic opportunity, and food and nutritional security for future generations.