Why in news?
Government data released in July 2025 shows that India’s fish production more than doubled in the past decade, underscoring the success of the Blue Revolution and its importance for the rural economy.
Growth trends
- Total fish production increased from about 95.8 lakh tonnes in 2013–14 to 195 lakh tonnes in 2023–24.
- Inland and aquaculture production grew by nearly 78 lakh tonnes during 2014–24, significantly more than in the previous decade.
- Marine fish production doubled from about 5 lakh tonnes to over 10 lakh tonnes during the same period.
- Seafood exports in 2023–24 reached 17.8 lakh tonnes worth over ₹60,000 crore, making fisheries a major foreign‑exchange earner.
Government support
- The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has an outlay of ₹20,050 crore for 2020–25 to modernise fishing infrastructure, develop cold chains and promote value addition.
- The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) of ₹7,522 crore finances harbour development, fish landing centres and fish markets; 136 projects worth ₹5,800 crore have been approved.
- Over 4.5 lakh fishers have been issued Kisan Credit Cards, with credit limits raised from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh, improving financial inclusion.
- Budgetary support for 2025–26 is ₹2,704 crore—the highest ever allocation for the sector.
Relevance
- Fisheries contribute to food security, nutritional diversity and employment, especially in coastal and riverine communities.
- They are part of the “Blue Economy” agenda, which seeks to harness ocean resources sustainably.
- Understanding these statistics helps in policy making for rural livelihoods, cooperative empowerment and the use of Exclusive Economic Zones.