Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, addressing the gathering at the launch of India’s development phase of the National Plan of Action (NPOA) for small-scale inland fisheries

India has set a target of 30 million tonnes in fish production over the next five years, while seafood exports are expected to rise to ₹1.25 lakh crore, Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, has said.

Highlighting the sector’s current status, he said India had achieved an annual fish production of 19.7 million tonnes, with inland fisheries contributing approximately three-fourths of this output, while seafood exports had crossed ₹70,000 crore.

However, he stressed that production and export growth must go hand in hand with securing the livelihoods of small-scale fishers.

Likhi was speaking after launching India’s development phase of the National Plan of Action (NPOA) for small-scale inland fisheries. The plan is being developed under the framework of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO).

The initiative is being led by the Union Department of Fisheries in collaboration with the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO).

A two-day national workshop in Bhopal identified key priorities for developing the action plan, including a proposed programme of consultations with fishing communities and other stakeholders. Experts from fisheries institutions and stakeholders prepared a framework for the activities to be undertaken in the development phase.

Likhi flagged climate change and deteriorating water quality as major concerns for inland fisheries, pointing to challenges such as declining oxygen levels in water bodies. He said that the plan must incorporate measures to build climate resilience, drawing on the experience of fishing communities who directly confront these challenges.

He also called for a mission-mode outreach programme to take India’s proposed national action plan for sustainable inland small-scale fisheries to fishing communities across the country. The document must translate into practical improvements in livelihoods rather than remain confined to government offices, he said, adding that the proposed plan must prioritise sustainability amid climate crisis, and strengthen value chains to improve fishers’ income.

The development phase is expected to address issues relating to fishing rights and resource management, employment and decent work, gender equality, value chains and post-harvest trade, as well as disaster risks and climate change, said P Krishnan, Director of BOBP-IGO.

The plan will be finalised through stakeholder consultations before its public launch next month and subsequent implementation.

Published on October 23, 2026