Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and plants. Major types include marine/brackishwater aquaculture of ocean species and freshwater aquaculture of native river/lake species. India is one of the top producers and exporters of aquaculture globally, dominated by species like carp, shrimp, and shellfish. The country faces challenges to its exports like market access issues, food safety concerns, and environmental impacts. It is addressing these through regulation, certification, traceability programs, and promoting sustainability and value-addition. Future prospects include growing demand, recognition of aquaculture as an economic sector, and greater awareness of sustainability needs.
2. What is aquaculture?
Aquaculture, also known as aqua farming, is
the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish,
crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants.
3. Types of Aquaculture
Marine/Brackishwater Aquaculture-It refers to the culturing of
species that live in the ocean.
Marine aquaculture can take place in the ocean (that is, in cages,
on the seafloor, or suspended in the water column) or in on-land,
manmade systems such as ponds or tanks. Recirculating aquaculture
systems that reduce, reuse, and recycle water and waste can support
some marine species.
Species :- carp, catla, rohu, magur, freshwater prawn, freshwater
pearl culture and ornamental fish farming
4. Freshwater aquaculture-It refers the production of species that are
native to rivers, lakes, and streams. U.S. freshwater aquaculture is
dominated by catfish but also produces trout, tilapia, and
bass. Freshwater aquaculture takes place primarily in ponds and in
on-land, manmade systems such as recirculating aquaculture
systems.
Brackish water aquaculture involves breeding of fish that habitat the
sea like sea bass, grey mullet, tiger shrimp and mud crabs
5. Aquaculture & Fish Trade
Increasing Importance of Aquaculture in trade.
Very important for 26 % of international fish trade
For another 21 % aquaculture is starting to gain important.
Share of Shrimps in Int. trade-16.5 %
Contribution of Farmed Shrimps-40 %
9. Top Species in Aquaculture Production
Species group 2009 2010 Linear Growth
(Tonnes)
Carps and other cyprinids 1,66,73,155 1,83,03,847 8.9
Oysters 43,32,357 46,03,717 5.89
Clams, cockles 34,57,510 41,16,839 16.01
Miscellaneous freshwater fishes 37,63,902 37,39,949 -0.64
Shrimps, prawns 14,95,950 24,76,023 39.58
Salmons, Trouts 17,91,061 19,78,109 9.45
Mussels 17,00,871 18,60,249 8.56
Tilapias and other cichlids 14,83,309 18,22,745 18.62
Miscellaneous marine molluscs 12,89,586 14,65,191 11.98
10. Introduction
Indian fisheries and aquaculture is an important sector of food production.
It provides nutritional security to the food basket, contributing to the agricultural
exports and engaging about fourteen million people in different activities.
With diverse resources ranging from deep seas to lakes in the mountains and more
than 10% of the global biodiversity in terms of fish and shellfish species, the
country has shown continuous and sustained increments in fish production since
independence.
11. Increasing food production especially of animal protein and achieving self
sufficiency in aquatic product supplies.
Generating new source of employment in rural area including part time
employment of farmer and small scale fishery and arresting migration of people
from rural to urban areas.
Producing food near consumer centre in rural area thus contributing to
improvement of human nutrition.
Earning foreign exchange through export or saving foreign exchange through
import substitution.
12. BLUE Revolution
The term “Blue revolution" refers to the remarkable emergence of aquaculture as
an important and highly productive agricultural activity. Aquaculture refers to all
forms of active culturing of aquatic animals and plants, occurring in marine and
fresh waters.
Many Species of freshwater and marine organisms are being cultivated as highly
productive and nutritious crops for consumption by humans.
It is the rapid expansion of intensive, commercial aquaculture, It Came in a
decade after the Green Revolution (1970s; chemical-based agriculture)
Increase global food production and reduce widespread hunger.
13. Present Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture
in India
Global position 3rd in Fisheries 2nd in Aquaculture
Contribution of Fisheries to GDP (%)1.07
Contribution to Agril. GDP (%)5.30
Per capita fish availability (Kg.)9.0
Annual Export earnings (Rs. In Crore)7,200
Employment in sector (million)14.0
Present fish Production 6.4 mmt
Inland3.4 mmt & Marine 3.0 mmt
Potential fish production 8.4 mmt
Fish seed production 21,000 million fry Hatcheries1,070
FFDA -422 & BFDA- 39
Source:- NFDB Hyderabad
14. Present Fisheries Resources in Indian States
State/Union Approx. Length of Coast
Line
Continental Shelf
(‘000 Sq. Km.)
Number of Landing
Centres
Number of
Fishing Villages
Andhra Pradesh 974 33 213 555
Goa 104 10 33 39
Gujarat 1600 184 133 247
Karnataka 300 27 85 144
Kerala 590 40 186 222
Maharashtra 720 112 156 456
Orissa 480 26 57 813
Tamil Nadu 1076 41 382 573
West Bengal 158 17 59 189
A & N 1912 35 25 100
Daman & Diu 27 - 5 11
Lakshadweep 132 4 19 20
Pondicherry 45 1 27 40
Total 8118 530 1336 3289
15. Reported aquaculture production in India
(from 1950)
0 500000 1000000 1500000 2000000 2500000 3000000 3500000 4000000 4500000 5000000
1950
S_1952
1955
S_1957
1960
S_1962
1965
S_1967
1970
S_1972
1975
S_1977
1980
S_1982
1985
S_1987
1990
S_1992
1995
S_1997
2000
S_2002
2005
S_2007
2010
S_2012
India
FAO - Fisheries and
Aquaculture Information
and Statistics Service -
14/04/2015
22. Tariff escalation
Value added products attract higher tariff levels.
This perpetuates the dominance of Developed countries in
the production and marketing of value-added products
23. Supermarkets
Increased dominance of supermarkets in retail trade in fish and value-added products
Entry barriers create difficulty in accessing supermarkets
Supply logistics difficult for a new entrant.
Shelf space expensive
High costs of market promotion
Brand barrier. Acquisition of brands prohibitively expensive
24. Non-Tariff Barriers
The detection levels for chloramphenicol and Nitrofurans necessitate heavy
investment in analytical equipment.
Japanese market also becoming more sensitive to residues
Rejection of shrimp consignments lead to financial crisis for the export industry
25. Measures to meet the challenges
Short term measures:
Notification banning the use of anti biotics in hatcheries ,farms etc
Village level campaigns against use of anti-biotics and other
pharmacologically active substances in shrimp farms
26. Medium and long term measures
Legislation and Regulation of Aquaculture through
Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act (2005)
Probiotic mode of operation of shrimp hatcheries
Code of practices for shrimp hatcheries and farms and
their registration
Domestication and selection for SPF shrimp
27. Traceability
Since farming is highly fragmented, traceability becomes difficult.
Certification becomes unaffordable
Comprehensive database on shrimp farms in the country under
preparation
Assigning identification code to individual farms
GIS mapping of farms in association with National Remote Sensing Agency
28. Value Addition
Value addition key to betterment of farmers
Investment needed in processing
Technology up-gradation
Access to retail chains difficult for small& medium exporters
Better brand equity needed.
29. Opportunities
Increased demand for products
Diversification opportunities
Benchmarking practices with the most advanced in the world .
Capacity building
Emergence of sustainability as an integral part of Aquaculture
practices
30. Role of FAO
Fish Technologists & Processors in developing countries, to introduce appropriate
technologies for reducing fish spoilage.
Fish processors in the fundamentals of quality, use of ice, hygiene, etc.
Improves handling practices on fish landing sites & fish preservation methods.
Improves fish consumption from low-value resources.
31. Future Prospects
Increasing demand: The increasing demand for fish will require more
production, and the supply from capture fisheries is static.
Emergence of the sector: Aquaculture has become recognized as a growth sector
of economic importance in many countries and has attracted the attention of the
private and public sectors.
Culture-based fisheries: Stocking of reservoirs and enhancement/rehabilitation
of fisheries will gain importance with time, particularly as cost/benefit problems
are resolved.
32. Growing awareness of sustainability needs
There is a rapidly growing awareness of the need to ensure the sustainability of
the sector in the long term.
Public debate involving all stakeholders, national and international efforts to
arrive at practical guidelines for sustainable practices.
Technical efforts to improve the sustainability of some aquaculture systems, are
positive responses to challenges and will yield constructive results in the medium
and long term.
33. The Way Forward
Value addition of seafood products „
More FDI inflow in Seafood sector „
Promotion of Brand equity
Promotion of Organic Shrimp