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Why does India’s fishing industry rely heavily on inland aquaculture and shrimp farming?
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commercial fishing
Worker in the Tsukiji fish market, Tokyo.
India’s reliance on inland aquaculture and shrimp farming is driven by the need to boost production, support livelihoods, and maximize export value. While marine fishing faces challenges such as limited mechanization among small-scale coastal fishers and sustainability concerns from overfishing, inland aquaculture has emerged as a primary engine for growth.12
Key factors include:
- Economic Growth and Exports: Shrimp has become India’s most profitable seafood export, accounting for the largest share of both quantity and value in the sector. This high demand from international markets, particularly the United States and China, incentivizes intensive farming.12
- Government Support: Initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) have provided critical support for the expansion of inland aquaculture.1
- Infrastructure Development: Investments in modernizing harbors, cold storage, and post-harvest infrastructure have strengthened the industry's capacity to process and export products efficiently.1
- Production Stability: As marine catches are impacted by the inability of small, non-mechanized craft to reach deeper waters and the necessity of seasonal fishing bans to curb overfishing, inland aquaculture offers a more controlled and productive environment for species like carp, catfish, and tilapia.12