1) India has abundant inland fishery resources including rivers, reservoirs, tanks, and ponds that total over 2 million hectares. 2) In recent decades, the government has prioritized developing inland aquaculture through agencies and schemes that have brought over 3 million hectares under fish culture. 3) Inland fish production has grown significantly faster than marine production, increasing from 2.18 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 31.76 million tonnes in 2007-2008.

1. CHAPTER-IV
GROWTH OF INLAND FISHERIES
IN INDIA

2. In recent times numerous prospects have come up for the
expansion of trade. This has induced growth in the Indian Economy,
due to the rise of international associations, like World Trade
Organization, evolution of quality, standards in information and
communication technology. This is the result of the so called
globalization process from which none of us can estrange ourselves. In
the process of globalization, India has to play an important role in the
changing scenario ofthe fisheries industry,
India is endowed with vast and varied aquatic resources (Marine
and Inland) amenable for capture fisheries and aquaculture. The marine
water bodies are used mainly as capture fisheries resources, whereas
Inland water bodies are used for both culture and capture fisheries. Most
of the inland water bodies are captive ecosystems where intensive
processes can be possible and thereby hold enormous potential for a
many fold increase in fish production.
The demand for fish is going on increasing. Owing to this, greater
priority was given to develop fresh water aquaculture sector in the five
year plans, during the last decade. Considering this concept as a basis,
much importance was given in the Fifth Five Year Plan, by starting
special schemes like Fish Farmers Development Agency (FFDA) and
Brackish Fish Farmers Development Agency (BFFDA). FFDA is meant
74

3. for popularizing fish farming in tanks and ponds, whereas BFFDA is
meant for the development of brackish water aquaculture development.
Presently there are 150 FFDA’s functioning in 17 states of all over
India. These agencies have brought nearly 3.8 lakh hectares of water
area under intensive fish culture. Moreover 5 lakh farmers have been
trained in improved practices up to 2005-2006. The fish yield has been
raised from 50 kg per hectare in the 1970’s to about 150 kg per hectare
by the year 2006-2007.1
The Government of India is also implementing a “shrimp fish
culture project” with the World assistance for development of shrimp
culture in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal. In the
case of inland fish production, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states were
given much importance.
India has a vast potential for fishery resources, comprising 2
million Sq.Kms of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for deep sea
fishing, 7520 Sq.Kms of coastal line, 2900 kms of rivers, 1.7 million
hectares of reservoirs, 1 million hectares of brackish water area and
0.8 million hectares of tanks and ponds for inland and marine fish
production. All these resources are waiting to be exploited fully.2
India is the third largest producer offish in the world. However in
the case of inland fisheries, India occupies the second position in the
75

4. world. The Fisheries sector plays an important role in the socio­
economic development of India by providing employment for a large
population. It is not only an important source for direct employment but
also generates employment in down-stream industries. It is estimated
that about 11 million people are employed in the fisheries sector. This
sector helps in raising nutritional levels, augmentation of food supply
and earning foreign exchange. The contribution ofthe fisheries sector to
the gross domestic product (at current prices) has increased from 24,670
crore to 31,010 crore between 1980-81 and 2006-2007. Fisheries
contributed 1.14 per cent to India’s GDP by the year 2006-2007.3
The Fishery industry is playing an important role in India. It is
providing livelihood for a large section of economically backward
population of the country. India has abundant fishery resources in the
form of rivers, canals, reservoirs, brackish water, tanks and ponds.
These resources can be seen in the table 4.1.
76

5. TABLE 4.1
INLAND FISHERY RESOURCES OF INDIA
State / UT
Length of
Rivers &
Canals
(Kms)
Area of
reservoirs
(Million
ha)
Area under
ponds &
tanks
(million ha)
Bells, oxbow
lakes &
derelict water
(million ha)
Brackish
water
(million
ha)
Andhra Pradesh 11514 0.234 0.517 0.064
Assam 4820 0.002 0.023 0.110 —
Bihar 3200 0.060 0.095 0.005 —
Goa 250 0.003 0.003 —
—
Gujarat 3865 0.243 0.071 0.012 0.376
Haryana 5000 Neg. 0.010 0.010 -
Himachal Pradesh 3000 0.042 0.001 — —
Jammu & Kashmir 27781 0.007 0.017 0.006 —
Karnataka 9000 0.220 0.414 — 0.008
Kerala 3092 0.030 0.003 — 0.243
Madhya Pradesh 20661 0.294 0.119 — —
Maharashtra 1600 0.279 0.050 — 0.010
Manipur 3360 0.001 0.005 0.040 --
Meghalaya 5600 0.008 0.002 Neg. -
Nagaland 1600 0.017 0.050 Neg. "
Orissa 4500 0.256 0.114 0.180 0.417
Punjab 15270 Neg, 0.007 .. -
Rajasthan NA 0.120 0.180 -- --
Sikkim 900 — — 0.003 —
Tamil Nadu 7420 0.052 0.224 0.524 0.056
Tripura 1200 0.005 0.012 — --
Uttar Pradesh 31200 0.150 0.162 0.133 —
West Bengal 2526 0.017 0.276 0.042 0.210
Arunachal Pradesh 2000 0.001 0.003 ~
Mizoram 1395 — 0.002 — —
Andaman & nicobar 115 0.001 0.0003 — 0.037
Chandigarh 2 - Neg. Neg. -
Delhi 150 0.004 — — —
Lakshadweep -- ~ - -- -
Pondicherry 247 .. Neg. 0.001 0.001
Dadra - Nagar Havelie 54 0.005 — - -
Daman & Diu 12 ""
Total 171334 2.050 2.3553 1.069 1.422
NA: Not Available
Sources: Handbook on Fisheries Statistics, Government of India, 2008.
77

6. Table 4.1 indicates that India has rich and varied resources of 1.71
lakh kms of rivers and canals. In the matter of rivers and canals, Utter
Pradesh state dominates over other states. It has 31,200 kms of rivers
and canals. It is followed by the state of Jammu and Kashmir which has
27,781 kms of rivers and canals. Third place goes to Andhra Pradesh
state which has 1,11,514 kms of rivers and canals. This is the scenario
ofrivers and canals in India.
In the case of reservoirs, India has 2.05 million hectares of the
total area ofreservoirs. In this matter, Madhya Pradesh state occupies an
area of 0.294 million hectares. It is followed by the state ofMaharashtra
which occupies an area of 0.279 under reservoirs. The Orissa state falls
in the third place. The length of rivers and canals comprise an area of
0.256 million hectares in this state.
On the other side of tanks and ponds, the total area occupied by
India is 2.35 million hectares, in which the first place is occupied by
Andhra Pradesh. It comprises an area of 517 million hectares. It is
followed by the state of Karnataka and West Bengal. They occupy an
area of0.414 and 0.276 million hectares respectively.
India occupies 1.06 million hectares under beels, oxbow lakes and
derelict water resources. In the total area of beels and derelict water
sources in India; Tamilnadu occupies an area of 0.524 million hectares.
78

7. It is followed by the state of Orissa, which occupies an area of 0.180
million hectares. The last place is occupied by the state ofUttar Pradesh
which comprises of0.133 million hectares.
In the case ofbrackish water resources, India occupies a total area
of 1.42 million hectares. Out ofthis total area ofbrackish water sources,
Gujarat has an area of 0.376 million hectares. It is followed by the state
of Orissa which occupies an area of 0.417 million hectares. The third
place is occupied by the state of Madhya Pradesh which has 0.243
million hectares. This is the scenario of the brackish water resources in
India.
Prawn Culture
The world prawn culture production in 2006 was estimated to be
about 6,29,000 tonnes, from a total culture area of one million hectares.
Of which 85 per cent of the global farmed shrimp came form Asian
Countries. The technical improvement made in prawn farming in many
parts of the world, paved the way to increase our shrimp production
through prawn culture by adopting extensive and semi-intensive systems
of prawn farming in the area where production conditions were
conducive.
Prawn farming in India has taken a new dimension in recent
years. India is recognized as one of the world leaders in shrimp
79

8. production. Among the marine products, prawn is the dominant item. To
promote research and development ofprawn culture, the Government of
India geared up several institutions such as universities, fisheries,
colleges and promotional institutions like Marine Products Expert
Development Agency (MPEDA). Several banks and financial
institutions like NABARD and ICICI found it profitable to invest their
capital in prawn culture industry. Many multinational corporations have
also shown keen interest in the exploitation of prawn culture in the
developing countries.4
Suitable Stocking
The inland fisheries sector has the potential ofproducing over 4-5
million tonnes annually. This is, in addition to the potential aquaculture
zones, reservoirs and canals. The present mean production level is 15-20
kgs per hectare, per year. This could be enhanced to around 100 kgs per
hectare, per year with a suitable stocking of fingerlings. This segment
also provides significant livelihood and employment generation in rural
areas.
This sector contributes as much as 87 per cent of the total
aquaculture production in terms of quantity. Three major carps i.e.
Catla, rohu, mirgal, contribute the lion’s share of the total fish
production along with several other species being cultured presently.5
80

9. Growth ofFisheries Sector
The development of fisheries in India, in a true sense, started only
with the induction of the concept of the Five Year Plan, in the year
1950-51. The policy makers and planners have given much importance
to fisheries in the plan periods, keeping the primary motto of the
national objectives of income generation, employment, welfare of
fishermen, foreign exchange and so on.
The growth of the fisheries sector is a continuous process. It
would not be fair to discuss the growth at a particular period, without
looking into the past. The growth of fish production is represented from
the year 1950-51 to 2007-2008 in the table 4.2.
81

10. TABLE 4.2
FISH PRODUCTION IN INDIA AND AVERAGE ANNUAL
GROWTH DURING THE PERIOD 1950-51 TO 2007-2008
Year
Fish Production (Lakh
Tonnes)
Average Annual Growth
Rate (%)
Marine Inland Total Marine Inland Total
1950-1951 5.34 2.18 7.52 —
—
—
1960-1961 8.80 2.80 11.60 6.5 2.8 5.4
1970-1971 10.86 6.70 17.56 2.3 13.9 5.2
1980-1981 15.55 8.87 24.42 4.3 3.2 3.9
1990-1991 23.00 15.36 38.36 4.8 7.3 5.7
2000-2001 28.25 27.80 56.06 2.5 9.0 5.1
2007-2008 32.67 31.76 64.43 2.9 8.2 5.8
Sources:
1. Handbook on Fisheries Statistics, Government ofIndia, 2006.
2. D. Sudarshan’s, “Looking at Fish Production of India in New
Light,” Fishing Chimes Vol.2, No.6, February, 2009.
Table 4.2 reveals that marine fish production is confined to the
level of 5.34 lakh tonnes during the year 1950-51. However, it increased
to 32.67 by the year 2007-2008. Similarly inland fish production was
2.18 lakh tonnes in the year 1950-51. It increased to 31.76 lakh tonnes
in the year 2007-2008. On the whole total fish production was 7.52 lakh
tonnes during the year 1950-51. However, it increased to 64.43 lakh
tonnes by the year 2007-2008. An average growth is confined to 5.00
per cent.
82

11. It is observed that in the year 2007-2008, there is a marginal
difference prevailing in between marine and inland fisheries production.
In the case of the average annual growth rate of fish production, the
inland fish growth rate is better than marine fish growth rate. This can
be seen from the table 4.3.
TABLE 4.3
GROWTH OF MARINE AND INLAND FISH PRODUCTION IN
INDIA
(in lakh tonnes)
Year Marine Fish Production Inland Fish Production
1950-51 5.20 3.40
1960-61 9.30 3.48
1970-71 4.60 7.50
1980-81 16.20 9.80
1990-91 24.10 16.30
1999-00 29.40 27.10
2000-01 31.70 39.45
2006-07 36.20 42.30
Source: Handbook on Fisheries Statistics, Government ofIndia, 2008.
Table 4.3 reveals that marine fish production was 5.20 lakh
tonnes during the year 1950-51. However by the year 2007-2008, it
increased to the level of 36.20 lakh tonnes. In the case of inland, it was
3.40 lakh tonnes during the year 1950-51. This increased to the level of
42.30 lakh tonnes by the year 2007-2008. It can be understood more
clearly with the help ofdiagram. It is represented in the fig. 4.1.
83

12. Fig 4.1
GROWTH IN MARINE AND INLAND FISH PRODUCTION IN INDIA
1950-51 1960-61 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 1999-00 2000-01 2006-07
Year
■ Marine Fish Production □ Inland Fish Production
Figure 4.1 indicates that marine and inland sectors show
substantial improvements. During the years 1950 to 2006, the marine
sector had contributed much for the total fish production. Later fresh
water aquaculture contributed much to the inland fish production. The
contribution of aquaculture in the total fish production was insignificant
during the 1950 and 2007. Later on, the aquaculture sector became not
only an important sector of Indian fisheries, but also contributed
significantly to the increase in inland fish production.
The growth of marine fish production was very slow after the
1970’s. This is due to, traditional and mechanized fishing vessels that
were being used in the inshore waters. Yet it reached the level of the
estimated potential. Even with the best possible efforts, the fish
production from the marine sector especially, from off-shore, could
<n——
Production(inlakhs)
84

13. hardly be increased. Exploitation of off-shore and deep sea fisheries
potential was considered to be a highly capital intensive venture, which
might not be affordable by our country.6
The growth of inland fish production was faster than marine
fisheries at a later stage. The Inland fisheries sector was expected to be
comparatively more important as there was a much wider gap between
its potential and yield. Therefore the inland fisheries sector was better
placed in terms ofincreased fish production.
Though, the inland fisheries sector as a whole, was reported to be
growing faster, the share of conventional inland capture fisheries in the
total inland fish production, had declined mainly due to pollution,
change in fish habitat, over fishing of irrigational water and weak
implementation of legislative measures for conservation and
management of fishing resources. The aquaculture had not only helped
in attaining faster growth but also became increasingly important in the
inland sector. Therefore, it was expected that the increase in fish
production during the last decade of the 20th century would take place
mainly in the aquaculture sector.7
The Inland fish production is again divided into three categories;
that is, fresh water aquaculture, brackish water aquaculture and inland
capture fisheries. These are represented in the table 4.4.
85

14. TABLE 4.4
SECTOR-WISE FISH PRODUCTION IN INDIA - 1991-2007
(Tonnes'
Year Inland Capture Brackish Water Aqua Fresh Water Aqua
1991 45,00,000 10,00,000 10,00,000
1992 38,00,000 15,00,000 12,00,000
1993 55,00,000 20,00,000 13,00,000
1994 54,00,000 30,00,000 14,00,000
1995 56,00,000 40,00,000 15,00,000
2000 57,00,000 45,00,000 16,00,000
2005 59,00,000 50,00,000 17,00,000
2007 61,00,000 52,00,000 18,00,000
Source: Handbook ofFishery Statistics, Government ofIndia, 2008.
Table 4.4 reveals that Inland capture fish production was 45.00
lakh tonnes during the year 1991. It increased to 61.00 lakh by the year
2007. Similarly, brackish water aqua fish production was 10.00 lakh
tonnes in the year 1991, and this increased to a maximum of 52.00 lakh
tonnes by the year 2007. In the case of fresh water aquaculture the
situation was different. The production was 10.00 lakh tonnes during the
year 1991 and it increased to 18.00 lakh tonnes by the year 2007. This is
the scenario ofthe various sources of fish production in India. The table
is converted into the diagram, to understand it more clear. It has been
shown in the Fig. 4.2.
86

15. Fig 4.2
SECTOR-WISE FISH PRODUCTION IN INDIA FISHERIES 1991-2007
70.00
60.00
£ 50.00
c
o 40.00
| 30.00
■■§ 20.00
10.00
0.00
■ Inland Capture B Brackish Water Aqua B Fresh Water Aqua
Fig. 4.2 reveals that brackish aquaculture fish production was
very less during the year 1991. However gradually it kept on increasing
in the later period. Inland fisheries also increased marginally from 1992
onwards. But the increase rate is more in the case of fresh water fish
culture. Fresh water fish is used as an excellent source of protein for
human diet. This protein is relatively of high digestibility, biological
growth, promoting value for the human consumption. The major
varieties that are being cultured in fresh water are catla, rohu, mrigal,
silver carp, grass carp and so on. The demand for these types of fishes
are going on increasing, because fish has become a regular part of the
menu for an average Indian. The National Sample Survey (NSS) data on
food consumption in India, shows that consumption of fish over two
decades has increased in terms of per capita monthly consumption and
number of households. Kerala has the highest monthly per capita
consumption of 1.913 kg. The second place is occupied by West Bengal
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 2000 2005 2007
Year
87

16. with of 0.768 kg per capita monthly consumption, followed by Assam
with 0.631 kg. It is understood from the bar diagram that aquaculture
dominates over the brackish water aquaculture and inland capture
fisheries.
Scenario ofInland Fisheries in different States
Inland fish production in India had registered a modest average
annual growth rate of9 per cent during the last decade. Many states like
Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab
and Rajasthan have recorded a highly impressive average annual growth
rate of more than 10 per cent during the period 1990-91 to 2006-2007.
However the increase in fish production was quite significant in the
states ofWest Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.8
The share of major inland fish producing states can be seen in the
table 4.5.
88

17. TABLE 4.5
STATE-WISE STATUS AND GROWTH OF INLAND FISH
PRODUCTION IN INDIA (1990-91 TO 2006-2007)
Rank
(1999-
2000)
State / U.T.
Annual Fish
Production (000
tonnes)
Average
Annual
Growth
Rate (%)
Rankin
(1990-
91)
1990-91 2006-2007
1 West Bengal 550.00 823.50 5.5 1
2 Andhra Pradesh 136.25 380.58 19.9 3
3 Bihar 159.93 254.74 6.6 2
4 Uttar Pradesh 104.26 192.91 9.4 4
5 Assam 76.00 159.77 12.2 7
6 Maharashtra 64.00 135.39 12.4 8
7 Orissa 83.29 135.30 6.9 5
8 Madhya Pradesh 36.95 127.43 27.2 11
9 Karnataka 53.00 126.65 15.4 9
10 Tamil Nadu 82.00 112.00 4.1 6
11 Kerala 36.34 73.90 11.5 12
12 Gujarat 45.00 70.38 6.3 10
13 Punjab 11.20 47.18 35.7 16
14 Haryana 23.20 30.00 3.3 13
15 Tripura 21.20 29.34 4.3 14
16 Jammu & Kashmir 13.09 18.85 4.9 15
17 Manipur 8.50 15.51 9.2 17
18 Rajasthan 6.02 12.99 12.9 18
Other States/UTs 21.11 34.30 6.9 -
Total 1536.25 2780.44 9.0 -
Sources:
1, Hand Book on Fisheries Statistics, Government of India, 2008.
89

18. Table 4.5 reveals that West Bengal contributed an annual fish
production of 550 thousand tonnes during the year 1990-91. However,
by the year 1999-2000, it increased to the level of 8,23,000 tonnes. West
Bengal has been the pioneer state in inland fisheries. Though the West
Bengal state’s share of inland fish production has come down from 35.8
per cent in 1990-91 to 29.6 per cent in 1999-2000. However this
contribution was much higher than the other states.
Despite achieving a lower annual growth rate of 5.5 per cent than
India’s average annual growth rate of 9 per cent, increase of fish
production in West Bengal is much higher than other states during the
last decade in quantitative terms. West Bengal being one of the most
important traditional aquaculture states, the aqua production accounted
for 78.4 per cent of the total inland fish production of the states during
the year 2006-2007.
Andhra Pradesh has become the second largest inland fish
production state after West Bengal. The state has registered a
spectacular average annual growth rate of about 20 per cent during the
last decade and its share in the total of the country’s inland fish
production has gone up to 13.7 per cent in the year 2004-2007 from 8.9
per cent in the year 1990-91. Aquaculture sector, which has become an
organized industry in the state, has accounted for 88.2 per cent in the
90

19. total of inland fish production by the year 2004-2005. Andhra Pradesh
has had enormous shrimp farming and has produced 44,856 tonnes of
shrimp which account for over 54 per cent of the total farmed shrimp
production in India during 2006-2007.
Bihar is the third largest inland fish producing state. It had the
second place in the country’s inland fisheries map in 2006-2007.
Though Bihar achieved an average annual growth rate of 6.6 per cent
during the last decade, it was relatively lower than the country’s inland
fish production growth. Aquaculture contribution to inland fish
production is 54.3 per cent. It is relatively lower than India’s water
resources and fisheries potential. The fish production growth is expected
to be much more faster than the growth achieved.
Growth of fish production in Uttar Pradesh and the aquaculture
sector share in the state’s total fish production during the last decade is
more or less on the lines ofIndia’s inland fish production growth rate.
Assam occupies the seventh place in the case of inland fish
production during the year 1990-91. However it reached the fifth place
by the year 2006-2007. Among the states mentioned above, capture
fisheries sector dominates and accounts for about 81 per cent ofthe total
fish production during the year 2006-2007. The state ofAssam has huge
5~K.U.L IBRARY
Acc. ...../% _ ■* m. a

20. riverine resources and flood plains which provide great potential for
fisheries,
Maharastra had indicated an average growth rate of 12.4 per cent
in inland fish production during the period 1990-91 to 2006-2007. In the
first half of the last decade (upto 1995-96) there was very slow progress
in inland fish production but in later years it increased very rapidly. The
aquaculture sector contribution was reported to be about 52 per cent of
the total inland fish production. The state of Orissa witnessed a relative
lower growth rate of 6.9 per annum in the inland fisheries sector. The
inland fish production ofthe state was more or less constant from 1994-
95 to 2006-2007.
In Madhya Pradesh, the growth rate has been confined to 27.2 per
fh
cent. Owing to this Madhya Pradesh improved its rank from the 11
position to 8th position in the case of inland fish production. The
development of fisheries has been a continuous process from the year
1994-95 onwards.
In Karnataka inland fish production registered a growth rate of
15.4 per cent, during the last decade. However, Tamil Nadu showed a
poor growth rate of3.66 per cent only.
92

21. In the remaining important inland fish producing states, Punjab
achieved a spectacular growth of 35.7 per cent. While states like
Rajasthan, Kerala, Manipur witnessed a modest growth in inland fish
production during the last decade, the states like Gujarat, Tripura and
Haryana showed relatively poor growth during the last decade so far as
Inland fish production is concerned. It is worth mentioning that there
has been a spurt in the aquaculture activities in the states of Punjab arid
Haryana. The aquaculture sectors in Punjab and Haryana recorded 96.1
per cent and 89.1 per cent respectively during the year 2006-2007.
The various states are contributing different percentages of fish
production. This can be seen from the table 4.6.
93

22. TABLE 4.6
FISH PRODUCTION OF VARIOUS STATES OF INDIA
(in percentages)
S.No State Percentage
1 West Bengal 29.00
2 Andhra Pradesh 13.00
3 Bihar 9.00
4 Uttar Pradesh 7.00
5 Assam 6.00
6 Maharashtra 5.00
7 Orissa 5.00
8 Madhya Pradesh 5.00
9 Karnataka 5.00
10 Tamil Nadu 4.00
11 Other States 12.00
Source: Handbook ofStatistics, Government ofIndia, 2008.
Table 4.6 denotes that the first place goes to West Bengal, as it
contributes 29.00 per cent; it is followed by Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and
Uttar Pradesh. The last place goes to Tamilnadu, as it contributes only
4.00 per cent. The table can be converted into a pie-diagram. This is
represented in Fig.4.3.
94

23. Fig 4.3
SHARE OF MAJOR INLAND FISH PRODUCING STATES IN INDIA (2006-2007)
□ West Bengal
EB Andhra Pradesh
S Bihar
□ Uttar Pradesh
Q Assam
□ Maharashtra
S Orissa
□ Madhya Pradesh
S Karnataka
□ Tamil Nadu
0 Other States
Fig 4.3 reveals that the West Bengal state dominates over the
other states in the case of inland fish production, while the second place
is occupied by Andhra Pradesh state, and the last place goes to the
Tamilnadu state. This is the scenario of various states situation in India.
Shrimp Production
Considering the ever-growing demand of shrimp in the
international market, inland open water resources such as rivers, lakes,
reservoirs etc., are being used for fish production mostly under the
capture system. These resources have the potential to increase not only
inland fish production but also the total fish production substantially.
There is marginal increase in fish production from these resources.9
The share of inland capture fisheries sector remained constant in
the total inland fish production. This can be observed in the table 4.7.
95

24. TABLE 4.7
PROGRESS IN AREA COVERED UNDER SHRIMP FARMING
AND PRODUCTION 1990-91 TO 2005-2006
Year
Area brought
under culture (in
hectares)
Shrimp
production (in
tonnes)
Average
production (per
ha/kg)
1990-91 65,000 35,500 545
1991-92 68,227 40,000 586
1992-93 70,700 47,000 665
1993-94 82,540 62,000 751
1994-95 1,00,700 82,850 823
1995-96 1,18,983 70,573 593
1996-97 1,35,582 71,686 521
1997-98 1,41,591 66,868 472
1998-99 1,48,837 82,634 582
1999-00 1,51,624 79,876 591
2000-01 1,57,432 81,479 597
2002-03 1,59,876 83,684 642
2003-04 1,62,637 87,432 658
2004-05 1,68,674 89,657 667
2005-06 1,69,831 91,864 682
Source: Pandey S.K. “Growth in Inland Fish Production of India during
the last decade (1991-2006) - an analyses,” Journal of Fisheries
Economics and Development. Vol. iv, 2008.
96

25. From the table 4.7 it is understood that area brought under fish
culture is confined to 65,000 hectares during the year 1990-91.
However, it increased to 1,69,831 hectares by die year 2005-2006.
Owing to this shrimp production was 35,500 tonnes during the year
1990-91. It increased to 91,864 tonnes by the year 2005-2006. The
average shrimp production was 545 kg per hectare during the year 1990-
1991. It increased to 682 kg per hectare. It is the scenario of shrimp
production ofIndia.
Export of Fish Production
By exporting the fish production, the underdeveloped countries
are earning foreign exchange, which is needed for the growth of the
economy. India is no exception. India is also exporting its fish
production. Moreover the quantum of export is increasing year after
year. By exporting its agriculture commodities, India is earning foreign
exchange. Fisheries become a part ofthe agricultural sector.10
Let us see, how the fish production is being exported to the
international market and how much of foreign exchange is earned. This
can be seen in the table 4.8.
97

26. TABLE 4.8
EXPORT OF MARINE PRODUCTS OF INDIA
Year
Production (in
Million tonnes)
Quantity (‘000
tonnes)
Value (Rs. In
Crores)
1950-1951 0.8 20 2.0
1960-1961 1.2 20 4.0
1970-1971 1.8 40 35.0
1980-1981 2.4 80 235.0
1990-1991 3.8 140 873.0
2000-2001 5.6 453 5815.0
2002-2003 6.2 521 6793.0
2003-2004 6.4 412 5739.0
2004-2005 6.8 462 5856.0
2005-06 7.2 486 5984.0
2006-07 7.6 491 6146.0
Source: Economic Survey, Government ofIndia, 2008.
Table 4.8 reveals that in the year 1951, the total fish production
was about 0.8 million tonnes. It has increased to the level of 7.2 million
tonnes by the year 2005-2006. Owing to this, India got foreign exchange
from Rs.5110 to Rs.6540 crore from the year 1950-51 to 2005-2006.
Outlay of Fisheries
No industry can be developed without outlay. The Fisheries
industry is no exception. Let us see how the outlay shows variation in
different plan periods. This can be understood from the table 4.9.
98

27. TABLE 4.9
OUTLAY FOR FISHERIES SECTOR
DURING THE FIVE YEAR PLANS IN INDIA
(Rs. in Crores)
Plan Period
Total
Outlay
Outlay for
Agriculture
Outlay
for
Fisheries
Sector
Share offisheries
sector
Total
outlay
Agriculture
Outlay
First Plan 1951-56 1960 294 5.13 0.26 1.74
Second Plan 1956-57 4600 529 12.26 0.27 2.32
Third Plan 1961-66 7500 1068 28.27 0.38 2.65
Fourth Plan 1969-74 15902 2728 82.68 0.52 3.03
Fifth Plan 1974-79 39332 4302 151.12 0.38 3.52
Sixth Plan 1985-90 97500 6609 371.40 0.38 5.62
Seventh Plan 1985-90 180000 10524 546.50 0.30 5.19
Eighth Plan 1992-97 434100 22467 1232.80 0.25 5.49
Ninth Plan 1997-02 875000 115390 1363.20 0.16 1.18
Tenth Plan 2002-07 590948 381889 1324.22 0.22 0.35
Eleventh Plan 2007-12 893186 584712 1534.01 0.25 0.80
Source: M.Kishan and Prathap Singh Birthal, “WTO and Sea Food Exports
Performance Potential and Policy in India,” Journal of Agriculture
Marketing. Conference special, p.105,2007.
Eleventh Five Year Plan, 2007-2012 projected outlay and annexure
6.1 Vol. Ill, pp.147-162.
99

28. Table 4.9 reveals that 5.13 crore was allocated during the First
Five Year Plan. It becomes 0.26 per cent share of the fisheries sector in
the total amount for agriculture outlay. In the Tenth Plan, fisheries has
been allocated 1324.22 crore. This comes around 0.22 per cent of the
total agricultural outlay. This shows the allocation for fisheries sector
has been going on increasing. This is an indication for the growth ofthe
inland fisheries sector.
100

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101