Addressing the media, the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Giriraj Singh said that the Union Government will invest 25,000 crores in the next five years to enhance infrastructure and boost production of fishes in India. The minister released the Handbook on Fisheries Statistics - 2018, published by the Department of Fisheries of Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India. The Handbook on Fisheries Statistics - 2018 is the 13th edition which presents useful statistical information for various aspects of Fisheries sector. The last (12th edition of) Handbook was published in 2014.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the due importance to this sector by creating a separate Ministry for it. Singh said that Fisheries sector will play a crucial role in the doubling of farmers' income. He further said that the Ministry will strive to further increase this 14% growth rate in inland fisheries and are working towards creating more awareness among the State governments and the people.
The latest edition provides information on year wise fish production (Marine & Inland) from 1990-91 to 2017-18, trend of fisheries exports, fisheries resources, fishing craft, pattern of per capita fish consumption in different States/UTs, Grass Value Addition (GVA) from fisheries sector and its contribution to total GVA of the Country, fisheries institutes, fishermen population and various schemes implemented for sustained and responsible development of fisheries sector.
The Fisheries sector is major source of livelihood for over 1.60 Crore people along with double the number in down and upstream. Development of fisheries can ensure nutritional security, food security of India and also provide employment in these regions that are predominately inhabited by rural populace.
The total fish production of 12.59 million metric tonnes was registered during 2017-18 with a contribution of 8.90 million metric tonnes from inland sector and 3.69 million metric tonnes from marine sector. The average growth in fish production during 2017-18 stands at 10.14% when compared to 2016-17 (11.43 million metric tonnes). This is mainly due to 14.05% growth in Inland fisheries when compared to 2016-17 (7.80 million metric tonnes). India is currently world's second largest producers of fish. It is also world number two in aquaculture production as well as in inland capture fisheries.
The percentage contribution of inland fish production in the total fish production of 29% during the year 1950-51 and has increased to 71% in the year 2017-18. Andhra Pradesh has recorded the highest production of inland fish (34.50 lakh tones) whereas Gujarat is the leading state in Marine fish (7.01 Lakh tonnes) in the country. Total registered fishing vessels and fishing crafts in coastal States/UTs was 2, 69, 047 as on 31.07.2019.
There has been steady growth in the export of fish and fish products over the period. Efforts are being made to boost the export potential through diversification of products for export. During 2017-18 the volume of fish and fish products exported was 13,77,243.70 tonnes worth Rs 45,106.90 crore. The export of Marine Fish products has registered growth of 21.35% (Quantity) and 19.11 % (Value) during the year 2017-18.
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