India is the second largest producer of fish and also second largest aquaculture nation. It employs around 16 million fish farmers at primary level and almost twice the number at higher value chain. Its contribution to GDP has increased from 0.40% in 1950-51 to 1% in 2017-18. However, only 78% of marine and 58% of inland fisheries potential is presently harnessed. In order to realize full potential, Government has launched Blue Revolution with multi-faceted objectives.
CONSTRAINTS IN THE GROWTH OF FISHERIES SECTOR
Marine Capture Fisheries: Limited scope for expansion due to overcapacities in territorial waters, inefficient management and prevalence of traditional fishing practices. Inadequate infrastructure especially fishing harbours, landing centres, cold chain and distribution systems, poor processing and value addition, wastage, traceability and certification, non-availability of skilled manpower, etc.
Inland Capture Fisheries: Seasonal nature of fishing operations, depleted stocks in natural waters, use of obsolete technology for harvesting coupled with low capital infusion
Culture Fisheries: Lack of Species diversification, lack of emphasis on new forms of culture fisheries such as cold water fisheries, ornamental fisheries, rice-cum-fish culture system, waste water aquaculture; Poor physical condition of resources (specially the water quality and quantity), lower productivity, increased incidents of disease, low levels of investment, inadequate access to institutional credit and high cost of credit, inadequate infrastructure for pre-production, production, post-harvest and processing facilities, low adoption of technologies and shortage of skilled manpower in aquaculture and extension services
Details about Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana: Address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernization and strengthening of value chain, traceability, establishing a robust fisheries management framework and fishers’ welfare.
STRATEGIES TO BE ADOPTED TO BOOST BLUE REVOLUTION
- Horizontal Expansion in untapped areas like Brackish aquaculture, cold water fisheries, Pond aquaculture, Reservoirs, canals, ornamental fisheries, Recreational fisheries.
- Vertical Expansion through diversification of culture species; Integrated farming system; rice-cum-fish culture system; wastewater aquaculture system, Organic aquaculture.
- Restoration of natural productivity and conservation of indigenous fisheries resources through ecosystem restoration to boost riverinefisheries
- Address stagnation in Marine fisheries through deep sea fishing, Mariculture, open-sea cage farming etc.
- Upgradation of fishing fleet
- Organise fishermen into FPOs and fishing village communities into VPOs to reap economies of scale and promote value-addition
- Address problems of seed, feed and health.
- Enhancing extension through Sagar Mitras.
- Address technical and managerial gap in shrimp farming through FDI
- Development of fisheries post-harvest infrastructure especially modern markets, cold storages, processing plants etc. through PPP
- E-markets and e-trading of fish and fish products will be encouraged and promoted
- Ecological certification of fisheries to boost exports
Fisheries sector has been registering highest growth rates in production and providing livelihood and nutritional security in the country. Hence, it needs to be treated on par with agriculture and should be incentives/ concessions as in agriculture like financial assistance for technological upgradation, power supply, loan facility, Insurance, marketing assistance etc.