Gandhinagar: National Fish Farmer’s Day is celebrated every year on July 10 by the states in coastal areas. In Gujarat, various programs are being organized in Veraval on 10 July and on 11 July in Porbandar, Jafrabad, Mangrol, and Okha this year. The state government will provide valuable information to fish farmers regarding various government initiatives and modern technology in the fisheries sector.

Gujarat leads in marine fish production in India

According to the data released a few before the National Fish Farmer’s Day, Gujarat leads India in marine fish production and ranks fifth in the country in total fish production. Average fish production in Gujarat has been about 8.5 lakh metric tonnes per year in the last 4 years.

This year, provisional marine fish production is likely to be 6,97,151 metric tonnes while inland fish production is likely to be 2,07,078 metric tonnes. Thus, the total fish production of Gujarat in 2022-23 is likely to be around 9,04,229 metric tonnes. It is worth mentioning that Gujarat has the country’s longest coastline of 1600 km, which directly benefits its fish farmers and the fisheries industry.

Fishermen’s income increased by one and a half times compared to 2018

The positive and encouraging policies of the government of Gujarat have directly increased the income of the fish farmers. In the last 4 years, their income has increased by about one and a half times. In 2018, the income of fish farmers was ₹6.56 lakhs per family/year, which has now increased to ₹10.89 lakhs per fish farmer family/year. Their income has been increasing every year. The income was ₹ 6.56 lakh in 2018, ₹6.80 lakhs in 2019, ₹7.39 lakh in 2020,₹ 8.51 lakh in 2021, and ₹10.89 lakhs per family/household in 2022.

‘Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana’ promotes fish farming

Under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana’, the Government of India has approved a total of ₹ 286.53 crores for various component projects in Gujarat in 2022-23 to boost fisheries activities in the state. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020 to focus on fish farming and promote the growth of the fisheries sector in India.

The scheme aims to increase fish production in India to 70 lakh tonnes by 2024-25 and increase the export earnings of the fisheries industry to ₹1,00,000 crores by 2024-25. Presently, the fish production in India is at 16,248.27 thousand metric tonnes and the exports are 13,69,264 metric tonnes. Gujarat’s share in the total fish quantity exports is 16.9% i.e. 2,32,619 metric tonnes.

Gujarat government promotes Blue Economy

The Government of Gujarat has undertaken several initiatives for developing its fisheries sector considering its 1600 km coastline. The fisheries industry and fish farmers in Gujarat are becoming successful and prosperous due to a number of initiatives like reduction in the VAT rate on diesel, and subsidy on kerosene and petrol. Apart from that, the provision of electricity for shrimp farming, improving the infrastructure of small fishing ports, and construction of four new fish harbors at Madhwad, Navabandar, Veraval-II, and Sutrapada, besides regular weather and safety awareness in coastal areas have boosted the fisheries sector in Gujarat. DeshGujarat