Current Situation of Marine Fisheries in India
India captures 3–4 million tonnes of marine fish annually, reaching its maximum sustainable yield.
Small-scale fishers form 90% of the sector but only catch 10% of the fish; most catch comes from large mechanised vessels.
75% of fisher families live below the poverty line.
Overfishing with bigger boats and nets adds debt without significantly increasing catch.
Ecological and Regulatory Concerns
Trawling leads to massive bycatch — for every 1 kg of shrimp, 10 kg of other marine life is discarded, mostly dead.
Juvenile fishing with small mesh nets reduces breeding stock, leading to species decline.
Past examples (Canada, California) show that overfishing can cause long-lasting or irreversible fishery collapse.
India has fragmented fishery laws across coastal states, allowing rule evasion by moving catch across borders.
Solutions and Success Stories
Uniform national standards are needed: catch limits, gear restrictions, minimum legal sizes, and seasonal bans.
New Zealand’s Quota Management System (QMS) links fish catch to real-time stock health—India can adapt this for mechanised fleets.
Kerala’s minimum legal size (MLS) for threadfin bream increased catch by 41% in one season.
The fish-meal and fish-oil industry promotes wasteful bycatch; reforms like capping its quotas or redirecting it to local needs are crucial.
Way Forward
Central government should link subsidies and licences to sustainable practices.
States need stronger enforcement and surveillance systems.
Local fishing communities must be included in managing marine areas.
Consumers should support sustainable seafood by avoiding undersized or illegally caught fish.
Urgent reforms are essential to protect livelihoods, marine ecosystems, and food security for the future.
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