• by Bharath Thampi (thiruvananthapuram, india)
• Thursday, August 27, 2026
• Inter Press Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India,, August 27 (IPS) - India is ranked the second-largest fish-producing nation globally, accounting for around 8 percent of global output. The fisheries sector in India accounts for nearly 7.43 percent of Agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA), the highest (independent) share among the agriculture and allied sectors.

According to government statistics, India’s fish output doubled from 95.79 lakh tonnes in FY 2013–14 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024–25, a 106 per cent increase. The Union Budget of 2026–27 proposed ₹2,761.80 crore for the fisheries sector, marking the highest-ever annual budgetary allocation for this sector.

India’s “Blue Revolution”, which commenced in 2015 and is backed by central schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched in 2020, aims to strengthen the fisheries sector through infrastructure expansion and modern practices.

Yet, in India, the fisheries department at the central level is a part of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. “This needs a revamp, with fisheries being declared an independent sector nationally and regionally,” says the Federation of Indian Fisher Organisations (FIFO).

FIFO, which registered as an official organisation in March 2025, currently has 37 member organisations in India and a presence in every coastal state and union territory. Headed by Vincent Jain, who has worked with unions like the South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies (SIFFS) in the past, FIFO has approached several Members of Parliament from coastal states, the Fisheries Joint Secretary, the ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) Director, etc., in the last half-year or so, to present the case.

One of the key structural issues is, Jain says, that funds allotted by the central government get divided into three parts currently, with fisheries ending up with significantly less economic support than it actually needs. It also doesn’t help that many of the policy-makers at the union level don’t belong to coastal states, Jain notes. Yet, there’s an independent sector for agriculture, known as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

Although the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) does have a separate “Fisheries & Aquaculture” department under it, in matters of governance, it’s still categorised under the broader “agri-food systems”. Unlike land-based sectors, where violations are often clearly distinguished from livelihood activities, fisheries operate in complex and fluid marine spaces where rules, boundaries, and enforcement mechanisms are not always effectively communicated or practically feasible.

Jain has also reached out to the FAO on behalf of the FIFO, highlighting 30 different aspects to be considered in declaring fisheries as an independent sector. His next step is to have different regional coastal organisations in India, both under FIFO and otherwise, make similar official requests.

Jain suggests that FAO can implement this need by initiating global and regional consultations, calling for expert opinions from fisheries professionals, marine scientists, fisher organisations, labour and safety experts, and policy practitioners with direct field experience. FAO can also develop revised advisory guidelines that are sensitive to country-specific contexts while promoting best practices in fisheries governance.

“You can look at this in two ways: if we get national recognition as an independent sector, other countries, especially in Asia, may be encouraged to follow suit. At the same time, if an organisation like the FAO acknowledges this need, then it can create a trickle-down effect globally as well,” Jain says.

In India, Jain notes, the government still officially categorises fishers as “farmers”, which is the biggest misrepresentation that FIFO aims to address. This is also influenced by aquaculture being promoted in this century. Even though advisory committees in India include experts with fisheries backgrounds, final decisions are often shaped by administrative perspectives that neglect the needs of fishers.

As a result, fisheries schemes have been poorly aligned, overlook safety and operational risks at sea, underestimate capital and infrastructure requirements, or fail to address post-harvest and market challenges unique to the sector.

Moreover, fishers don’t have a regulated system of provident fund or insurance schemes, which the government has mandated for daily wage workers across the country.

Sebastian Mathew, a fishery advisor who retired from the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF), has a slightly differing perspective on the issue, though. Unlike agriculture and farming, fishing is a declining “traditional” livelihood generally in India, he says. There are fewer people in this century who are carrying the trade forward from their previous generation and are seeking alternative occupations instead.

There’s also substantial loss of traditional knowledge as a result of this, Mathew reckons. While this phenomenon is applicable for agriculture as well, he feels it’s more pressing when it comes to fishing.

“Also, when we talk about better resource allocation for fisheries centrally, we need to reflect on how well the current funds are being utilised, especially by the state governments. Except for aquaculture, are we really promoting artisanal fishing practices and using our finances wisely for that?” he adds.

One of the fishers’ unions in Sri Lanka has expressed interest in joining FIFO in this movement, Jain says. He has also reached out to representatives of several Asian and European countries who rely on the fisheries sector to a large extent, just like India.

This movement is distinctive from other campaigns by the fishers’ unions and organisations in the past, Jain points out, because of the official route chosen to highlight the issue rather than demonstrative protests or agitations.

The organisation is also planning to conduct a national-level workshop where experts and representatives of coastal communities can present their ideas on this matter.

IPS UN Bureau Report

© Inter Press Service (20260827132902) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

Where next?

Advertisement