The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries has been undertaking various production, input supply and infrastructure development programmes and welfare-oriented schemes besides formulating/initiating appropriate policies to increase production and productivity in the Fisheries Sector.

Fish production since 1980-1981 is shown in the table below (lakh tonnes):

Year	Marine	Inland	Total
1980-81	15.55	08.87	24.42
1990-91	23.00	15.36	38.36
1991-92	24.47	17.10	41.57
1992-93	25.76	17.89	43.65
1993-94	26.49	19.95	46.44
1994-95	26.92	20.97	47.89
1995-96	27.07	22.42	49.49
1996-97	29.67	23.81	53.48
1997-98	29.50	24.38	53.88
1998-99	26.96	26.02	52.98
1999-2000	28.52	28.23	56.75
2000-2001	28.11	28.45	56.56
2001-2002	28.30	31.20	59.56
2002-2003	29.90	32.10	62.00
2003-2004	29.41	34.58	63.99
2004-05 (Prov.)	27.78	35.26	63.04

The fisheries sector has been one of the major contributors of foreign exchange earnings though export. Export of fish and fishery products has grown manifold over the years. From about 15,700 tonnes valued at Rs 3.92 crore in 1961-62, exports have grown to 4.37 lakh tonnes valued at Rs 6188.92 crore in 2004-05.

Development Of Inland Fisheries And Aquaculture

The ongoing scheme of Development of Freshwater Aquaculture and Integrated Coastal Aquaculture have been combined with four new programmes on Development of Cold water Fish Culture, Development of Water-logged Area and Derelict water bodies into Aquaculture estates, Use of Inland Saline/ Alkaline Soil for Aquaculture and programme for augmenting the Productivity of Reservoirs. This scheme broadly has two components - Aquaculture and Inland Capture Fisheries.

Development Of Freshwater Aquaculture

The Government has been implementing an important programme in inland sector, viz., Development of Freshwater Aquaculture through the Fish Farmers Development Agencies (FFDAs). A network of 429 FFDAs covering all potential districts in the country are in operation. During 2004-05, about 24,605 ha of water area was brought under fish culture and 29,647 fish farmers were trained in improved aquaculture practices through FFDAs.

Development Of Brackish Water Aquaculture

With the objective of utilising the country’s vast brackish water area for shrimp culture, an area of about 27,492 hectares was developed for shrimp culture till 2004-05 through 39 brackish water Fish Farmers Development Agencies (BFDAs) set up in the coastal areas of the country. The agencies have also trained 26,536 Fishers in improved practices of shrimp culture till 2004-05. Presently about 50 per cent of the shrimp exported from the country is from aquaculture.

Development Of Marine Fisheries

The Government is providing subsidy to poor fishermen for motorising their traditional craft, which increases the fishing areas and frequency of operation with consequent increase in catch and earnings of fishermen. About 44,860 traditional crafts have been motorised so far. The Government has also been operating a scheme on fishermen development rebate on HSD oil used by fishing vessels below 20 meter length to offset the operational cost incurred by small mechanised fishing boat operators.

Development Of Fishing Harbour

The Government has been implementing a scheme with the objective of providing infrastructure facilities for safe landing and breathing to the fishing vessels. Since inception of the scheme, six major fishing harbours viz., Cochin, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Roychowk, Paradip and Sassoon dock (Mumbai), 40 minor fishing harbours and 151 fish landing centres have been constructed. 19 minor fishing harbours and 38 fish landing centres are at various stages of construction.

Welfare Programmes For Traditional Fishermen

Important programmes for the welfare of traditional fishermen are

1. Group Insurance Scheme for active fishermen
2. Development of Model Fishermen Villages and
3. Saving-cum-relief Scheme.

The fishermen identified or registered with the States/UTs are insured for Rs 50,000 against death or permanent total disability and Rs 25,000 against partial disability. During 2005-06, assistance has been provided to cover 16.3 lakh fishermen under insurance. Under the Development of Model Fishermen Villages, 22,000 houses have been sanctioned for the benefit of fishermen in 2004-05. Under the Saving-cum-Relief component, financial assistance is provided to the fishermen during the lean fishing season. About 3.27 lakh fishermen were assisted under the saving-cum-relief programme in 2005-2006.

Specialised Institutes

The Central Institute of Fisheries, Nautical and Engineering Training, Kochi, with units at Chennai and Visakhapatnam, aims at making available sufficient number of operators of deep-sea fishing vessels and technicians for shore establishments. Integrated Fisheries Project, Kochi, envisages processing, popularising and test marketing of unconventional varieties of fish. The Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fisheries, Bangalore, is engaged in techno-economic feasibility study for location of fishing harbour sites. Fishery Survey of India (FSI) is the nodal organisation responsible for survey and assessment of fishery resources under the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).