Inland Fisheries

2.1.1 Introduction

          India has the distinction of being one of the seven largest producers of fish in the world and ranks third in terms of total inland fish production after China and Bangladesh (FAO, 2010). All in all, this sector has been recognized as a powerful income and employment generator since it stimulates the growth of a number of allied industries and also is source of cheap animal protein. It is an instrument of livelihood for a large section of economically backward population of the country.

          Of the two sectors viz. marine and inland in the Indian fisheries, the inland sector remains a sector of much promise. Unlike agriculture, because of expansion of culture based fisheries enterprise, the contribution of inland fisheries sector to grow domestic product has been increasing at a significant rate. This sector is a complex enterprise which operates under the intensified network of natural resources, other enterprises with fisheries and other socio-political variables.