- The Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri Giriraj Singh released the “Handbook on Fisheries Statistics – 2018”, on September 19, 2019 published by the Department of Fisheries of Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India.
- The Handbook on Fisheries Statistics – 2018 is the 13th edition which presents useful statistical information for various aspects of Fisheries sector. The last (12th edition of) Handbook was published in 2014.
- According to Shri Giriraj Singh, the Union Government will invest 25,000 crores in the next five years to enhance infrastructure and boost production of fishes in India.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the due importance to this sector by creating a separate Ministry for it.
- The Fisheries sector is major source of livelihood for over 1.60 Crore people along with double the number in down and upstream.
Total Fish Production
- The total fish production of 12.59 million metric tonnes was registered during 2017-18 with a contribution of 8.90 million metric tonnes from inland sector and 3.69 million metric tonnes from marine sector.
- The average growth in fish production during 2017-18 stands at 10.14% when compared to 2016-17 (11.43 million metric tonnes). This is mainly due to 14.05% growth in Inland fisheries when compared to 2016-17 (7.80 million metric tonnes).
- India is currently world’s second largest producers of fish. It is also world number two in aquaculture production as well as in inland capture fisheries.
- The percentage contribution of inland fish production in the total fish production of 29% during the year 1950-51 and has increased to 71% in the year 2017-18.
- Andhra Pradesh has recorded the highest production of inland fish (34.50 lakh tones) where as Gujarat is the leading state in Marine fish (7.01 Lakh tonnes) in the country.
- Total registered fishing vessels and fishing crafts in coastal States/UTs was 2, 69, 047 as on 31.07.2019.
- There has been steady growth in the export of fish and fish products over the period. Efforts are being made to boost the export potential through diversification of products for export.
- During 2017-18 the volume of fish and fish products exported was 13,77,243.70 tonnes worth Rs 45,106.90 crore. The export of Marine Fish products has registered growth of 21.35% (Quantity) and 19.11 % (Value) during the year 2017-18.
