Fishers’ Organisations in India Demand Recognition From FAO

Two fishers at work in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Fisheries is a socially and economically important sector for India. Credit: Bharath Thampi/IPSby Bharath Thampi (thiruvananthapuram, india)Thursday, August 27, 2026Inter 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...