Fisheries

India’s Fisheries Sector on the Rise

Context: As per the latest government data, India’s fisheries sector has experienced a significant growth and contributes approximately 8% to global fish production.

Relevance of the Topic:Mains: Fisheries Sector in India: Present status; Challenges; Govt. schemes.

Fisheries Sector in India

With a vast coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million square kilometres, India boasts of rich marine resources. India is the second largest fish producing country with around 8% share in global fish production.

Present status: In the five year period between 2019-20 to 2023-24:
- India’s fisheries sector has achieved record production of over 184 lakh tonnes (lt) in FY24 from 141 lt in FY20 (nearly a 30% growth).
- Fisheries exports from India increased to ₹60,500 crore in FY24.
- Increase in per capita fish consumption from 5-6 kg to 12-13 kg in FY24.
- Aquaculture productivity increased from 3 tonnes per hectare to 4.7 tonnes per hectare.
Increased investment: In the last 10 years, the government has made a cumulative investment in the fisheries and aquaculture sector of over ₹38,500 crores through various programmes and initiatives.

Constraints in the growth of Fisheries Sector

Overexploitation of fish stocks due to increased demand for seafood. Additionally, seasonal nature of fishing operations, depleted stocks in natural waters, use of obsolete technology for harvesting coupled with low capital infusion threatens the livelihoods of fishing communities and overall health of marine ecosystems.
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing: IUU fishing practices contribute to overfishing and undermine efforts to manage fisheries sustainably. Lack of effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms exacerbates this issue.
Inadequate infrastructure including lack of proper storage, transportation, and processing facilities, hinders the efficiency of the supply chain. This can lead to post-harvest losses and affect the quality of seafood products.
Pollution including industrial runoff, untreated sewage, and plastic waste, poses a threat to aquatic ecosystems.
Changing climate patterns impact fish habitats, migration routes, and breeding grounds. This affects fish populations and can result in shifts in the distribution of species, impacting the traditional fishing patterns of communities.
Limited access to modern fishing technologies and practices hampers the efficiency and productivity of the fishing industry. The adoption of sustainable and technologically advanced methods is crucial for long-term viability.
Ineffective fisheries management, including poorly enforced regulations and a lack of participatory approaches involving local communities, contributes to overfishing and resource degradation.
Social and Economic challenges faced by fishing communities such as poverty, lack of education, and limited access to healthcare.

Government Schemes for supporting the growth of Fisheries Sector:

Blue Revolution Scheme: Launched in FY16 with a central outlay of Rs 3000 crores for 5 years. It focused mainly on increasing fisheries production and productivity from aquaculture and fisheries resources, both inland and marine.
National Policy on Marine Fisheries 2017: The policy guides the conservation and management of India’s marine fishery resources. It places strong emphasis on sustainability as the core principle for all marine fisheries actions.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Approved with a total estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crores for 5 years from FY 2020-25. Extended till FY26. It aims to address critical gaps in the fisheries value chain from fish production, productivity and quality to technology, post-harvest infrastructure and marketing.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana: Central Sector Sub-scheme under PMMSY for 4 years from FY 2024-27. It intends to address inherent weaknesses and bring in institutional reforms to the sector through identified financial and technological interventions.
Technological Interventions:
- GIS-Based Resource Mapping: Implementation of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology for mapping marine fish landing centers and fishing grounds, aiding in effective resource management.
- Satellite Technology Integration: National Rollout Plan for Vessel Communication and Support System, application of Oceansat, Potential Fishing Zones (PFZ) etc., undertaken by the Department of Fisheries.

Also Read: PMMSY: bridging gaps in the fisheries sector

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 riverine fisheries.
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 gaps in shrimp farming through Foreign Direct Investment.
Development of fisheries post-harvest infrastructure especially modern markets, cold storages, processing plants etc. through Public Private Partnership.
E-markets and e-trading of fish and fish products will be encouraged and promoted.
Ecological certification of fisheries to boost exports.

PMMSY: bridging gaps in the fisheries sector

Context: In 2020, Government of India came up with Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to bring about ecologically healthy, economically viable, and socially inclusive development of the Fisheries sector of India.

Status of India’s Fisheries Sector

(Data from Economic Survey 2022-23)

The fishing sector in the country continues to be among the most important and fastest growing agriculture allied sector in this country.
The sector provides livelihood to more than 2.8 crores fishers and fish farmers at the primary level and several more along the fisheries value chain.
The annual average growth rate of the fisheries sector has been about 7 per cent since 2016-17 and has a share of about 6.7 per cent in total agriculture GVA.
About 17% of agricultural exports of our country are fish and fish products.
India is now among top three countries in fish and aquaculture production.
India has become the one of the biggest shrimp exporter in world.

About Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, is implementing Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
PMMSY is designed to address critical gaps in the fisheries value chain from fish production, productivity and quality to technology, post-harvest infrastructure and marketing.

It aims to modernize and strengthen the value chain, enhance traceability and establish a robust fisheries management framework while simultaneously ensuring the socio-economic welfare of fishers and fish farmers.
The scheme focuses on the doubling of fishers’ income through a variety of interventions like by generating meaningful employment.
It also focusses on enhancing the contribution of the fisheries sector to Agricultural GVA and exports.
Build a robust fisheries management and regulatory framework for better management of the sector.

Benefits of PMMSY

The scheme provides financial assistance to develop fishing infrastructure like fishing harbors, fish landing centers, fish markets, fish feed plants, fish seed farms, and fish processing units.
Assistance for marketing and export of fish products: It provides assistance for the development of cold chains, fish processing units, and packaging facilities to promote the export of fish products. It will enhance India's competitiveness in the global seafood market. E.g., Aquapreneurs in Nellore have become successful exporters with the help of biofloc cultivated shrimps.
Employment Generation: It aims to generate employment opportunities, particularly in rural and coastal areas. It provides livelihoods to fishermen and fisherwomen, as well as opportunities in related sectors such as processing, marketing, and transportation.
It promotes the use of modern technology and equipment in fishing and aquaculture. This includes providing support for the adoption of advanced fishing vessels, fish-finding technology, and fish processing machinery.
Diversification in Fisheries by promoting activities such as ornamental fish farming, seaweed cultivation, and mariculture, expanding the scope of the sector.
Empowerment of women: The scheme emphasizes the participation of women in the fisheries sector, providing them with training and financial support for their active involvement in various activities. E.g., Women entrepreneurs from Kashmir Valley are efficiently rearing cold water rainbow trout using a recirculatory aquaculture system.

PMMSY has indeed opened a world of opportunities, and its successful implementation will play a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of India's fisheries and aquaculture industry for generations to come.

Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)

Context: Recently Government of India approves a plan to establish two lacks new multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) / dairy/fishery primary cooperative societies for covering all the remaining Panchayats/ villages in the country.

What are Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)?

It is a cooperative credit institution at the village/lowest level.

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PACS is an association of borrowers and non-borrowers residing in a particular locality.
The funds of the society are derived from the share capital and deposits of members and loans from a central cooperative bank.
PACS is the foundation of the cooperative credit structure.
The first PACS was established in 1904.
PACS is the final link between the borrower at the village level on one hand and the higher agencies like the central cooperative bank, state cooperative bank and reserve bank of India.

Who regulates PACS?

PACS are registered under the Co-operative Societies Act which means they are regulated by the State government (specifically administrative aspects) and also regulated by the RBI.
NABARD is a nodal refinancing agency for PACS including other cooperative banks.
They are governed by the “Banking regulation Act-1949” and Banking Laws (Co-operative societies) Act 1965.

Objectives of PACS

To raise the capital to meet the demands of its members
To collect the deposits from its members.
They also supply agricultural inputs and other services (in the form of money or in-kind) to their members.
They can also provide a storage facility to produce its members.

Who can form PACS?

Gorp of ten or more people in a village or from many villages can form PACS
Membership fees are there to be a member of PACS but it is very low so that the poorest man can join it.
Members of the PACS have unlimited liability, which means each member assumes full responsibility for the society’s entire loss in the event of failure.
Management of the PACS is overseen by the elected body

What are the Capital Sources of PACS?

PACS derives its working capital from

Their own funds (share capital, membership fee, and reserve funds),
Deposits,
Borrowing and
Other sources

Significance of PACS

PACS accounts for 41% of all KCC loans provided by all entities in the country.
PACS is the main source of credit for rural marginal farmers because 95% of beneficiaries of PACS are small and marginal farmers,

Participants of Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies

State Governments,
the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD),
the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB)

Approach and period of Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies

The scheme will be implemented through the convergence of various existing schemes of the Government of India and by leveraging the ‘whole-of-Government’ approach in the next five years.

Other initiatives

The Government of India has approved setting up of three national-level Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) one each for Organic, Seeds and Exports registered under MSCS Act, 2002 i.e.

National Co-operative Export Society,
National Co-operative Society for Organic Products and
National Level Multi-State Seed Co-operative Society

Purpose of national-level Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS)

These cooperative societies are expected to support the fisheries in the areas of supply of seed and quality fish marketing with a focus on the integrated project for the development of Inland fisheries, fisherwomen cooperatives, branding & trade promotion and capacity building.

The Integration of Cooperatives data with the Gati Shakti Portal

To utilise the infrastructure being developed by the Centre and State.