Context

India has made tremendous progress in the fisheries sector which was traditionally seen to support the daily nutrition and livelihood of the fishers. It is now acknowledged as one of the game changers in the Indian economy.

What is Blue Revolution?

• Blue Revolution means the adoption of a package programme to increase the production of fish and marine products.
• Blue Revolution, the Neel Kranti Mission has the vision to achieve economic prosperity for the country and the fishers and fish farmers.
• It also aims to contribute towards food and nutritional security through the full potential utilization of water resources for fisheries development in a sustainable manner.

Objectives

• To increase the overall fish production responsibly and sustainably for economic prosperity
• To modernize the fisheries with a special focus on new technologies
• To ensure food and nutritional security
• To generate employment and export earnings
• To ensure inclusive development and empower fishers and aquaculture farmers

India’s fisheries sector

• The importance and the role of the fisheries sector were officially recognized in India, through the enactment of the ‘Indian Fisheries Act’ in 1897.
• The first Five-year plan (1951—56) of the Government of India, drew the canvas of the Fisheries sector (both Marine and Inland Fisheries sector).
• It was followed by the creation of an independent Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying in 2019.

Highlights of the Fisheries Sector:

• The culture of Pangassius and mono-sex Tilapia, native catfishes, and freshwater prawns are picking up due to culture-based production being adopted at a faster pace.
• Three Major Carp (IMC) species- Catla, Rohu, and Mrigal together contribute a lion’s share in production.
• In the shrimp segment, most of the production comes from vannamei
• Rainbow trout culture and rehabilitation of native Mahaseer in cold waters of the Himalayan corridor are promising ventures.

Growth in inland Fisheries and Aquaculture:

• In 2021-22, the country’s fish production has reached an all-time high of 162.48 lakh tons, showing 10.34 percent growth.

• It took 63 years to increase the total inland and aquaculture fish production to the tune of 59.18 lakh tons.
• But the increase in production was phenomenal to 59.85 lakh tons in just eight years.
• It also demonstrates the growing interest of youth in the fisheries and aquaculture sector as a source of employment, income, and entrepreneurship.

Financial support by the Government:

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
  • PMMSY is a flagship scheme for focused and sustainable development of the fisheries sector in the country as a part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
  • Under PMMSY, over a span of five years (FY 2020-25), an investment worth Rs 20,050 crore has been envisaged for the fisheries sector.
  • PMMSY puts special emphasis on employment generation for SC, ST communities, and women.
• Livelihood and nutritional support have been provided for 13.99 lakh (FY 2020 to date) socio-economically backward active traditional fishers’ families during the seasonal fishing ban/lean period.
  • For safety net, 31.89 lakh fishers have been insured under the Group Accidental Insurance Scheme (GAIS).
  • The insurance premium under GAIS is 100 percent borne by central and state governments.

Employment Generation: Till now (FY 2020-21, 2021-22, and till November 2022-23), projects to the tune of Rs 11,029.36 crore have been sanctioned to generate lakhs of employment opportunities in the sector.

Contribution to the national economy:

• The sector has achieved all-time high marine product export of Rs 57,586 crore (US $ 7.76 billion) in 2021-22.
• The consistent growth in exports is exhibited by a 90.6 per cent increase in marine product exports from 2013-14 to 2021-22.

Key Policy Decisions

• Blue Revolution Scheme
• Creation of a new Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
• Separate Department of Fisheries with the independent administrative structure
• launch of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
• Sagar Parikrama
• PM Gati Shakti Master Plan