FISHING SECTOR IN INDIA
WHAT IS STATUS OF FISHING SECTOR IN INDIA?
- 3rd largest fish producing country.
- With around 7.7% of the global fish production.
- Second largest aquaculture fish producer.
- Increased production from 5 lakh tons in 1950-51 to 142 lakh tons in 2019-20.
- The sector provides livelihood to about 16 million fishers.
- It has enough potential earn foreign exchange.
- Total GDP increased from 0.40% in 1950-51 to 1.07% in 2019-20
- It has been recognized as a ‘Sunrise Sector’.
WHAT IS BLUE REVOLUTION?
- It has restructured by merging all the ongoing schemes.
- It is Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Financial assistance is provided to the States/UTs.
- It covers inland fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries, deep sea fishing.
- Activities undertaken by the National Fisheries Development Board.
WHAT IS THE REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF FISHING IN INDIA?
- It is uneven across the States depending on the coastline and infrastructure.
- Southern Region accounted for almost half of the production.
- Eastern Region has one fourth of the total production.
- Almost every State produces inland fish to an extent.
- Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh together has half of the fresh water production.
- Marine fish production has remained limited to nine States and four UTs with coastlines.
- West Coast (59%)
- East Coast produces (41%)
WHAT ARE CHALLENGES FACED BY THIS INDUSTRY?
- Nearly 90 % of the global stocks either been fully-exploited or depleted to an extent.
- Increasing demand of 196 million tonnes by 2025 than current 171 million tonnes.
- Poor quality delivery in poorly managed production.
- Insufficient Mechanization in traditional boats.
- The lack of refrigeration facilities leads to spoiling.
- Problems due to killing, arresting of fishermen by neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan.