India Celebrates World Fisheries Day 2024, Championing Sustainable and Equitable Growth

New Delhi: The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D) celebrated World Fisheries Day 2024 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi, with the theme “India’s Blue Transformation: Strengthening Small-Scale and Sustainable Fisheries.” The event, highlighting the contributions of fishers and fish farmers, emphasized sustainable development in the fisheries sector.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh lauded the achievements of the fisheries sector, celebrating India’s status as the world’s second-largest fish producer. “With over 30 million individuals engaged across the value chain, the sector has witnessed a doubling of fish production since 2014, reaching 17.5 million tons,” he noted. Singh highlighted transformative initiatives such as the Blue Revolution, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSY), which have boosted inland fishing to contribute a remarkable 13.2 million tons of the total.

While celebrating successes, Singh addressed key challenges, including plastic pollution, carbon emissions, and water quality. “Efforts are underway to reduce plastics, improve water quality, and promote eco-friendly practices,” he said, emphasizing the importance of initiatives like the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) to address infrastructural gaps.

The event witnessed the launch of pivotal initiatives to strengthen India’s blue economy. Among these were the 5th Marine Fisheries Census, the National Plan of Action on Sharks, and India’s endorsement of the Regional Plan of Action on IUU Fishing in collaboration with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. Other notable projects included the IMO-FAO GloLitter Partnership Project to combat marine plastic litter, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for retrofitted LPG kits in marine fishing, and the New Single Window System (NSWS) for coastal aquaculture farm registration.

Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to implement a framework for the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), supporting carbon-sequestering practices in the fisheries sector.

Minister of State George Kurian highlighted the transformative impact of fisheries on food security, nutrition, and employment. He acknowledged significant investments under PMMSY and advancements in smart integrated harbors to boost fish productivity. Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel underscored India’s efforts in ensuring the safety and sustainability of small-scale fishers, rejuvenating fish stocks, and promoting alternative livelihoods such as seaweed cultivation.

International representatives praised India’s leadership. Vani Rao commended India’s collaboration with FAO and its role in global fisheries management. Manuel Barange of FAO emphasized the nutritional and environmental benefits of aquatic foods and advocated innovative solutions to global food security challenges.

The event celebrated excellence in fisheries with awards for states, districts, individuals, and cooperatives. Kerala was recognized as the Best Marine State, Telangana as the Best Inland State, and Uttarakhand as the Best Himalayan and Northeastern State. Notable district awards included Kollam (Kerala) for marine fisheries and Kanker (Chhattisgarh) for inland fisheries.

In the individual category, Ravi Kharvi (Karnataka) and Shiv Prasad Sahani (Bihar) were honored as Best Marine and Inland Fish Farmers, respectively. Among cooperatives, the Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Cooperative Society (Goa) and Srijoni Min Unnayan Samabai Samiti Ltd. (Assam) were recognized for their contributions.

The event, attended by international delegates, researchers, and industry leaders, underscored the importance of sustainable fisheries practices in addressing challenges such as overfishing, habitat degradation, and climate change. Discussions highlighted the need for collective action to protect marine ecosystems and ensure long-term sustainability.

World Fisheries Day 2024 served as a testament to India’s commitment to fostering innovation and equitable growth in the fisheries sector, paving the way for a sustainable future while empowering the nation’s fishers and fish farmers.