Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 17: India has recorded a sharp rise in fish production over the past five years, with output increasing from 141.60 lakh tonnes in 2019–20 to about 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024–25 — a growth of nearly 38 per cent since the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in 2020, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
In a written response in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajeev Ranjan Singh said the surge has been fuelled by the rapid expansion of inland aquaculture, development of marine fisheries, improved value-chain infrastructure and targeted policy interventions under the PMMSY framework.
The minister noted that India’s fish and fishery product exports have also shown strong momentum, touching Rs 62,408.45 crore in 2024–25. Export earnings have grown by about 33.7 per cent since the scheme’s rollout, rising from Rs 46,662.85 crore in 2019–20.
Aquaculture productivity has seen a marked improvement as well, increasing to nearly 4.7 tonnes per hectare by early 2025, compared to around 3 tonnes per hectare before PMMSY was introduced. Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha currently lead the country in inland fish production, with Bihar ranking fourth among them.
The economic contribution of the sector has expanded significantly. The Gross Value Added (GVA) from fisheries rose to Rs 3,68,124 crore in 2023–24 from Rs 2,12,087 crore in 2018–19. As a result, fisheries now account for 7.55 per cent of the agriculture sector’s GVA, up from 7 per cent five years earlier.
According to the minister, the Centre is prioritising technology adoption, aquaculture expansion and value addition across the fisheries value chain. Support is being extended for quality seed production, diversification and intensification of aquaculture, promotion of export-oriented species, disease management, traceability systems, skill development, and the creation of modern post-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure.
Under PMMSY, technology infusion has accelerated through the establishment of more than 52,000 reservoir cages, over 22,000 RAS and Biofloc units and raceways, and 1,525 sea cages, backed by an investment of Rs 3,040.87 crore.
To strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship, the Department of Fisheries has partnered with research institutions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and private incubators. Five fisheries business incubation centres have been set up across the country, including facilities at Guwahati Biotech Park, MANAGE Hyderabad, ICAR-CIFE Mumbai and ICAR-CIFT Kochi, to provide mentorship, training and business support to fisheries start-ups, cooperatives, farmer producer organisations and self-help groups.
The minister said these initiatives collectively aim to build a modern, resilient and export-competitive fisheries sector while improving incomes and livelihoods in coastal and inland fishing communities.