63
2.2 Inland Fisheries
Catches globally from the inland fisheries were about 11.9 million tonnes in 2014,
and production from inland aquaculture is estimated at 47.1 million tonnes. The
bulk of global production is concentrated in only 16 countries, which together contribute more than 80% of the global inland catches. Fish harvested from aquaculture
amounted to 73.8 million tonnes, with an estimated first-sale value of US$160.2 billion. Thirty-five countries, which include China, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and
Egypt, have produced more farmed than wild-caught fish in 2014.
The catches from the Inland sector of India, including culture and capture was
6.58 million tonnes, which exceeded the catches from the marine sector. The total
water area for inland capture and culture available in India is 73.12 lakh hectares,
among which reservoirs with total water spread of 29.26 lakh hectares has the most
potential to develop. The area available under the tanks and ponds (24.32 lakh hectares) is from where most of the inland production of India comes from. The capture
fisheries contributed about 1.5 million tonnes of the total inland production.
There has been a significant increase in the inland fish production in India, which
has registered a growth of 26% in the recent years, but the inland waters are highly
affected by pollution, environmental degradation and, due to their limited habitats,
resources can be easily overfished.
3 Importance of Fisheries to the Economy of India
Fishery trade represents a significant source of foreign currency earnings for many
developing countries, and plays an important role in income generation, employment, food security and nutrition. In 2014, fishery exports from developing countries were valued at US$80 billion, and their fishery net export revenues (exports
minus imports) reached US$42 billion, higher than other major agricultural commodities (such as meat, tobacco, rice and sugar) combined.
The share of world fish production utilized for direct human consumption has
increased significantly in recent decades, up from 67% in the 1960s to 87%, or more
than 146 million tonnes, in 2014. The remaining 21 million tonnes was destined for
non-food products, of which 76% was reduced to fishmeal and fish oil in 2014, the
rest being largely utilized for a variety of purposes including as raw material for
direct feeding in aquaculture. Increasingly, the utilization of by-products is becoming an important industry, with a growing focus on their handling in a controlled,
safe and hygienic way, thereby also reducing waste.
Frozen shrimp contributed to about 40% in terms of quantity and 66% in value
of all the exports in fishery products from India. The major importers of Indian
seafood has been the United states of America (29%), South East Asia (25%),
European Union (20%), followed by Japan (8%). The country has exported fish
products amounting to US$ 5.78 billion (Rs. 37,871 crore) during 2016–17. The
Adaptation to Climate Change: A Fishery Technology Perspective
2.2 Inland Fisheries
Catches globally from the inland fisheries were about 11.9 million tonnes in 2014,
and production from inland aquaculture is estimated at 47.1 million tonnes. The
bulk of global production is concentrated in only 16 countries, which together contribute more than 80% of the global inland catches. Fish harvested from aquaculture
amounted to 73.8 million tonnes, with an estimated first-sale value of US$160.2 billion. Thirty-five countries, which include China, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and
Egypt, have produced more farmed than wild-caught fish in 2014.
The catches from the Inland sector of India, including culture and capture was
6.58 million tonnes, which exceeded the catches from the marine sector. The total
water area for inland capture and culture available in India is 73.12 lakh hectares,
among which reservoirs with total water spread of 29.26 lakh hectares has the most
potential to develop. The area available under the tanks and ponds (24.32 lakh hectares) is from where most of the inland production of India comes from. The capture
fisheries contributed about 1.5 million tonnes of the total inland production.
There has been a significant increase in the inland fish production in India, which
has registered a growth of 26% in the recent years, but the inland waters are highly
affected by pollution, environmental degradation and, due to their limited habitats,
resources can be easily overfished.
3 Importance of Fisheries to the Economy of India
Fishery trade represents a significant source of foreign currency earnings for many
developing countries, and plays an important role in income generation, employment, food security and nutrition. In 2014, fishery exports from developing countries were valued at US$80 billion, and their fishery net export revenues (exports
minus imports) reached US$42 billion, higher than other major agricultural commodities (such as meat, tobacco, rice and sugar) combined.
The share of world fish production utilized for direct human consumption has
increased significantly in recent decades, up from 67% in the 1960s to 87%, or more
than 146 million tonnes, in 2014. The remaining 21 million tonnes was destined for
non-food products, of which 76% was reduced to fishmeal and fish oil in 2014, the
rest being largely utilized for a variety of purposes including as raw material for
direct feeding in aquaculture. Increasingly, the utilization of by-products is becoming an important industry, with a growing focus on their handling in a controlled,
safe and hygienic way, thereby also reducing waste.
Frozen shrimp contributed to about 40% in terms of quantity and 66% in value
of all the exports in fishery products from India. The major importers of Indian
seafood has been the United states of America (29%), South East Asia (25%),
European Union (20%), followed by Japan (8%). The country has exported fish
products amounting to US$ 5.78 billion (Rs. 37,871 crore) during 2016–17. The
Adaptation to Climate Change: A Fishery Technology Perspective