India begins drafting national action plan for inland small-scale fisheries under FAO framework, targets 30 million tonnes fish output in five years

Key facts

• India formally launched the development phase of its National Plan of Action (NPOA) for small-scale inland fisheries, developed under the framework of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and led by the Union Department of Fisheries with the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO).
• Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, launched the development phase at a two-day national workshop in Bhopal that identified key priorities and prepared a framework of activities, including consultations with fishing communities and stakeholders.
• India has set a target of 30 million tonnes in fish production over the next five years, with seafood exports expected to rise to Rs 1.25 lakh crore.
• India's current annual fish production is 19.7 million tonnes, with inland fisheries contributing about three-fourths of the output and seafood exports having crossed Rs 70,000 crore.
• The proposed plan covers fisheries in rivers, canals, reservoirs, lakes, floodplain wetlands, tanks and cold-water systems.
• The development phase is expected to address fishing rights and resource management, employment and decent work, gender equality, value chains and post-harvest trade, and disaster risks and climate change.
• The plan will be finalised through stakeholder consultations before its public launch next month and subsequent implementation.
• Madhya Pradesh Fisheries Secretary Swantantra Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary Dr Gunjan Krishna and FAO Project Officer Giulia Gorelli also spoke on the occasion.