India’s fisheries and aquaculture, its promising course, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• India is the world's second-largest aquaculture producer, contributing 10.23 million tonnes of aquatic animals in 2022.
• India's aquatic food production has increased from 2.44 million tonnes in the 1980s to 17.54 million tonnes in 2022-23.
• The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Blue Revolution initiative have driven production growth, especially in inland and brackish water aquaculture.
• The FAO supports India's Blue Transformation theme, focusing on strengthening value addition in seafood exports.

Detailed Insights:

• India's fisheries and aquaculture sectors are vital for livelihoods, nutrition, and trade, but face challenges like overfishing, habitat degradation, and climate change.
• Agencies like ICAR, MPEDA, and NFDB have promoted innovation, while the Coastal Aquaculture Authority regulates activities for environmental compliance.
• Key reforms include vessel transponders for fisher safety, Kisan Credit Card inclusion, and Matsya Seva Kendras for integrated support.
• The FAO has collaborated with India through initiatives like the Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP) and the BOBLME project, focusing on small-scale fishing technologies and ecosystem management.
• A GEF-funded project in Andhra Pradesh, supported by the FAO, promotes climate-resilient, sustainable aquaculture based on GSA and EAA principles.
• The FAO's Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) aims to strengthen the technical capacities of fishing ports, with pilot projects in Vanakbara and Jakhau.
• Sustainability measures include science-based stock assessments, co-managed Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS), and ecosystem-based approaches to curb IUU fishing.

Enhancing India's Fisheries and Aquaculture.png

Key Concepts Involved:

• Aquaculture: The farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, and aquatic plants.
• Blue Revolution: An initiative focused on increasing aquaculture production through technological advancements and sustainable practices.
• IUU Fishing: Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities that threaten marine ecosystems and sustainable fisheries.