8. Fisheries

Fisheries is a sunrise sector with varied resources and potential, engaging over 14.50 million people at the primary level and many more along the value chain. Transformation of the fisheries sector from traditional to commercial scale has led to an increase in fish production from 7.5 lakh tonnes in 1950-51 to 107.95 lakh tonnes during 2015-16, while the export earnings from the sector registered at around 33,441 crore in 2014-15 (US$ 5.51 billion). Constituting about 6.30% of the global fish production and 5% of global trade, India has attained the second largest fish producing and second largest aquaculture nation in the world.

Besides being a source of protein, income and livelihood to poor fishermen, the fishery sector is also responsible for engaging rural population in ancillary activities like marketing, retailing, transportation etc.

While one of the most significant characteristic of Indian fishery is its small-scale nature, Inland fishery (with respect to marine), and through aquaculture (with respect to capture fisheries) has become the major norm of Indian Fishery sector.