Fisheries Economics

6.2.3. Indian Fisheries

The fisheries sector has been playing a vital role in the economic development of India. When our country become independent, food storage was the most important problem and hence the First Five Year Plan addressed this issue almost exclusively. In order to evolve technologies for increasing fish production, the erstwhile Central Marine Fisheries Institute (CMFRI) at Mandapam and Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) at Barrackpore were established in 1947. Since then, several fisheries research institutes were formed.

Artisanal fishing was predominant till the early sixties when mechanization of marine fishing using trawlers was introduced through the Indo-Norwegian Fisheries Project (INP) in Kerala and Tamilnadu. Trawl fishing emerged as the major source of marine fish production and this led to an increasing trend in marine fish production till late seventies. The next decade saw leveling off of marine fish landings and over-fishing became evident thereafter causing several problems. Conflict in resource exploitation surfaced frequently and often proved to be brutal resulting in casualties among the various sections of fishermen. Even today, we see breakdown of law and order due to this problem. Resource depletion in various kinds leading to threatening and endangerment of marine flora and fauna caused colossal damage to the marine resources and the ecosystem. The significant achievement was enhanced output, national income, employment generation and foreign exchange earnings though export of fish and fishery products. It has rich fisheries resources (Table 2).

Fisheries is a sunrise sector in India. It has been playing a significant role in the economy and in supporting the livelihood of an estimated 14 million people in the country. Its contribution include:

1. National income
2. Food fish production
3. livelihood support and employment
4. Foreign Exchange earnings
5. Eco-tourism
6. Coastal security
7. Protection against climate changes
8. Protection against natural disasters like Tsunami
9. Biodiversity
10. Cultural links