Union Minister for Agriculture inaugurated the Aqua Goa Mega Fish Festival, 2017, organized at SAG Campal Ground, Panaji, Goa.
India is second largest fish producer in the world. Overall fish production has increased from 0.75 million tonne of 1950-51 to 11.41 million tonne in 2016-17. Besides, this sector provides employment and livelihood support to more than 15 million people of in the country.
Fisheries development in India is not only meeting the protein requirements of the country, but it is also making significant contribution of about 6.2 percent in the fish production of the world.
If we compare the fish production of three years viz, 2014-15, 2015-16 & 2016-17 with last three years i.e., 2011-12, 2012-13 & 2013-14, it is observed that the overall fish production has achieved about 19 percent growth rate. Growth rate in marine fisheries was about 6.65 percent, whereas the growth rate of 26.07 percent has been achieved in inland fisheries in country.
India has earned more than 5.78 billion US dollars foreign exchange (i.e., Rs.37,871 crore) in 2016-17 through, exports of fish and fishery products.
India is first in prawn production and it is the largest exporter of prawns in the world too. The average annual growth rate of fish and fish products in the world was 7.5% during the last decade, whereas India has attained first position with 14.8% average annual growth in the export of fish & fishery products.
Government has merged all the schemes of fisheries sector into an umbrella scheme of Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries and approved with the outlay of Rs. 3000 crores.
Mariculture has been taken up under Blue Revolution to further enhance production from marine sector. Coastal States are provided with financial and technical support including training and capacity building.
Government of India has taken an important step in 2017 by adding a new component under the Blue Revolution to promote tradition fishers in the Deep Sea Fishing. Under the said component, the Government of India is providing 50% financial assistance i.e., upto Rs.40 lakh to the traditional fishers, their Self Help Groups, Societies and Organizations in acquisition of deep sea fishing vessels equipped with modern technology, which costs approximately, Rs.80 lakh per vessel.
