India’s Fish Production Doubles in a Decade, Creating Over 74 Lakh Jobs: Govt
New Delhi | January 12, 2026
India’s fisheries and aquaculture sector has recorded historic growth over the past decade, with national fish production rising by 106 percent from 95.79 lakh tonnes in FY 2013-14 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024-25, according to official data released by the Government of India.
The rapid expansion of the sector has generated 74.66 lakh employment opportunities, both direct and indirect, since 2014-15. This has significantly strengthened rural livelihoods and positioned fisheries as a major contributor to India’s agricultural economy.
India currently stands as the world’s second-largest fish producer, accounting for 8 percent of global output. The country ranks second in aquaculture production and is the world’s leading producer and exporter of shrimp.
Massive Investment Drives Sector Transformation
Since 2015, the central government has approved projects worth Rs 32,723 crore, while total investments announced or sanctioned under flagship schemes including Blue Revolution, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana have reached Rs 38,572 crore.
Major policy initiatives such as the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan have further accelerated inclusive growth by integrating fisheries development into the national agricultural framework.
Key Sector Achievements
Average aquaculture productivity has increased to 4.77 tonnes per hectare.
Seafood exports in 2023-24 reached 16.98 lakh tonnes valued at Rs 62,408 crore.
Fisheries contributed 7.43 percent to agricultural gross value added, the highest among allied sectors.
In FY 2024-25, seafood export value touched a record Rs 62,408 crore. Despite steep tariff hikes imposed by the United States on shrimp imports, India’s seafood exports grew by 21 percent in value and 12 percent in volume between April and October 2025.
Welfare and Financial Inclusion for Fishers
Accidental insurance coverage has been provided to 34.71 lakh fishers.
A total of 4.49 lakh Kisan Credit Cards have been issued with loans amounting to Rs 3,569.60 crore.
Nutritional assistance is extended annually to 4.33 lakh fisher families.
Infrastructure and Innovation Boost
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana in 2025-26, more than 52,000 inland cages, 12,081 recirculatory aquaculture system units and 4,205 biofloc units were approved. The government also sanctioned 480 deep-sea fishing vessels, 1,525 open sea cages and 27,189 fish transportation facilities. Additionally, 34 fisheries production and processing clusters were notified nationwide.
Under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund, 225 projects worth Rs 6,685.78 crore have been approved, creating more than 2.5 lakh jobs and improving infrastructure for over 8,100 fishing vessels.
Blue Economy Expansion
India has introduced new rules for fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone to promote sustainable deep-sea fishing, approved 11 Integrated Aquaparks with an investment of Rs 682.60 crore, launched national traceability frameworks and deployed safety transponders on one lakh fishing vessels.
India now exports over 350 seafood products to 130 countries, with value-added seafood exports growing by 56 percent over the past five years.