Contribution of fisheries in GNP & employment

Indian Fisheries The fisheries sector has been playing a vital

role in the economic development of India. When our country become independent, food storage was the most important problem and hence the First Five Year Plan addressed this issue almost exclusively.

In order to evolve technologies for increasing fish production, the erstwhile Central Marine Fisheries Institute (CMFRI) at Mandapam and Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) at Barrackpore were established in 1947. Since then, several fisheries research institutes were formed.

Artisanal fishing was predominant till the early sixties when mechanization of marine fishing using trawlers was introduced through the Indo-Norwegian Fisheries Project (INP) in Kerala and Tamilnadu.

Trawl fishing emerged as the major source of marine fish production and this led to an increasing trend in marine fish production till late seventies.

The next decade saw leveling off of marine fish landings and over-fishing became evident thereafter causing several problems.

Conflict in resource exploitation surfaced frequently and often proved to be brutal resulting in casualties among the various sections of fishermen.

Even today, we see breakdown of law and order due to this problem.

Resource depletion in various kinds leading to threatening and endangerment of marine flora and fauna caused colossal damage to the marine resources and the ecosystem.

The significant achievement was enhanced output, national income, employment generation and foreign exchange earnings though export of fish and fishery products.

Fisheries is a sunrise sector in India. It has been playing a significant role in the economy and in supporting the livelihood of an estimated 14 million people in the country. Its contribution include:

National incomeFood fish production livelihood support and employment Foreign Exchange earnings Eco-tourism

Coastal security Protection against climate changes Protection against natural disasters like

Tsunami Biodiversity Cultural links

National Income

Fisheries provided an estimated goods and services worth Rs.42,178 crores in 2007-08 from a more Rs.245 crores estimated during 1970-71. It’s share in the country’s GDP was 1.04% and 4.71 % of that from agriculture and called allied activities.

However, it is claimed that this estimate does not reflect the accurate value of the contributions from fisheries and it is believed it may be more than the reported value.

Food Fish Production

The estimated fish production was a more 0.752 million tonnes (t) consisting of 0.534 million tonnes from marine fisheries and 0.218 million t from inland fisheries in 1990-91. It rose to 7.637 m.t in 2008-09 comprising 2.977 million t of marine fish and 4.660 million t of inland fish (Table 2) .

While the marine fish production recorded an annual growth rate of 1.33%, the inland fish production had an annual growth rate of 6.52%. The inland fish production accounted for over 60% of total fish production mainly due to enhanced output from farmed fish production.

Livelihood support and employment

Fisheries remains a major source of livelihood for the rural poor, particularly all along the 8127 km long coastline of the country.

The country has enormous inland and marine waters providing immense livelihood and employment opportunities to the fisherfolk.

According to an estimate, about 14 million people derive livelihood and employment from fisheries (www.nfdb.org).

Foreign Exchange Earnings

Foreign exchange earnings through export is a top priority of the Union Government of India for sustaining economic growth of the country.

Fisheries exports constitute about 18% of agricultural exports of the country. About 100 products of fish are exported to many countries.

The export of marine products has steadily grown over the years, from a more Rs.3.92 crore in 1961-62 to Rs.10,048.53 crores in 2009-10 (Table 3). Marine products account for 1.1% of the total export from India.

Eco-tourism

Several islands, beaches, backwaters and mangrove forests have become hot spots of eco-tourism. Which may be generating several millions of rupees as income.

No economic valuation of these services of the marine eco-system, besides others, has been undertaken in India and hence the level of income from marine eco-tourism is not yet fully known.

Coastal security

India is a peninsula and coastal security is of utmost importance to the country. The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai revealed the slackness in the Indian coastal waters.

The patrol boats of the Indian coastguard as well as coastal police of the maritime states are very limited and the role of fisherfolk in identifying foreign vessels or any anti-social activity is significant.

The Indian fishing fleet has an estimated 2, 41,720 fishing crafts with the following composition.

1. Mechanished boats :           59,619

2. Motorised craft :                76,057

3. Non-motorised craft :    1,06,044

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2,41,720

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Protection Against climate changes

The Marine Ecosystem is a reservoir for absorption of green house gases such as carbon-di-oxide. The marine biota, particularly marine phytoplankton absorb carbon-di-oxide for photosynthesis.

Mangroves and coral reefs also absorb the gases which help to provide protection against climate changes.

Protection from Tsunami

Mangroves provided protection to the people living in coastal areas during the recent tsunami. Fisherfolk, NGOs and governments have prioritized protection and restoration of mangrove forests as they provide several other benefits to the coastal communities

Biodiversity

India is blessed with rich and varied fisheries resources and habitats. India is estimated to have 10% of fish biodiversity on earth.

The Gulf of Mannar is a hotspot of marine biodiversity and therefore has been declared a marine bio-sphere park which means all the resources in the region are now protected for conservation and management.

The fisheries plays a pivotal role in the Indian economy and in the livelihood development of our fisherfolk.