India’s total fish production has surged 104 percent over the past decade, rising from 96 million tonnes in 2013–14 to 195 million tonnes in 2024–25. Inland fisheries have driven this growth, expanding 142 percent from 61 million tonnes to 147.37 million tonnes, according to official data released by the Fisheries Department.
As of July 22, fisheries development projects worth Rs 212.74 billion have been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. An additional Rs 11.84 million has been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana to support early-stage implementation.
More than 2.6 million stakeholders—including fishers, micro-enterprises, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations, and private companies—have registered on the National Fisheries Digital Platform. India now ranks as the second largest fish producing nation globally, contributing approximately 8 percent of total global output. The sector remains a vital source of food security, employment, and income, particularly in coastal and rural regions.
The Department of Fisheries has supported infrastructure projects under PMMSY with a total outlay of Rs 172.10 billion as of July 29. By June 2025, 476,000 Kisan Credit Cards had been issued to fishers and fish farmers across all States and Union Territories, with total disbursements reaching Rs 32.14 billion.
The Union Budget 2025–26 proposed the highest-ever annual budgetary support for the fisheries sector at Rs 2.70 billion. The Department has also notified 34 fisheries clusters nationwide, including dedicated organic clusters in Sikkim and Meghalaya to promote environmentally sustainable practices.
India’s fisheries sector is undergoing a structural transformation through targeted policy support, modern technology adoption, and inclusive development initiatives. Schemes such as PMMSY and PM-MKSSY are enhancing production, upgrading infrastructure, and empowering fishers, with a strong focus on women and tribal communities.
