The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D) celebrated World Fisheries Day 2024 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi, with the theme “India’s Blue Transformation: Strengthening Small-Scale and Sustainable Fisheries.” The event recognized the contributions of fishers, fish farmers, and stakeholders, while emphasizing sustainable practices in the fisheries sector. The celebration was attended by Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), Minister of State Shri George Kurian, and Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, along with dignitaries like Ms. Vani Rao, Indian Ambassador to Italy, and Mr. Manuel Barange from the FAO. Representatives from over 59 countries, international researchers, fisheries communities, and sector leaders also participated.
Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh highlighted India’s remarkable achievements in becoming the world’s second-largest fish producer, contributing 8% to global output, with a record production of 17.5 million tons in 2024. He acknowledged the efforts of over 30 million individuals involved in fish production and lauded initiatives such as the Blue Revolution and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), which have significantly boosted production and exports. The Minister also addressed key challenges such as plastic and water pollution, carbon emissions, and the unorganized nature of the sector. He outlined government measures, including the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) and eco-friendly practices, to address these concerns.
Several landmark initiatives were launched during the event. These included the 5th Marine Fisheries Census, a National Plan of Action on Sharks for sustainable shark management, and India’s endorsement of the Regional Plan of Action on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in collaboration with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Maldives. The IMO-FAO GloLitter Partnership Project to combat marine plastic litter, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for LPG retrofitted kits to promote energy-efficient fishing, and the Single Window System (NSWS) for online aquaculture farm registrations were also unveiled. Additionally, an MoU was signed to implement a framework for the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), promoting carbon-sequestering practices in the sector.
States, districts, and individuals were honored for their contributions to fisheries. Kerala was awarded Best Marine State, Telangana Best Inland State, and Jammu & Kashmir Best Union Territory. Individual awards included Best Marine Fish Farmer for Shri Ravi Kharvi of Karnataka and Best Inland Fish Farmer for Shri Shiv Prasad Sahani of Bihar. Cooperatives like Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Cooperative Society, Goa, and Srijoni Min Unnayan Samabai Samiti Ltd., Assam, were also recognized, alongside Anmol Feed Pvt. Ltd., West Bengal, for excellence in enterprise.
The event served as a platform to showcase India’s leadership in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture while addressing global challenges such as overfishing, climate change, and habitat degradation. With significant investments under PMMSY and FIDF, India continues to strengthen its fisheries infrastructure and promote sustainable practices. The celebration underscored the sector’s vital role in providing livelihoods to over 3 crore individuals, boosting exports, and positioning India as a global leader in fisheries production.
