In the Union Budget 2025-26, which has been unveiled by the Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, there is a beginning made for a new and vast framework for the marine fisheries. This venture is a positive and major attempt to develop sustainable marine production from the Indian waters to sea food and several other products while maintaining the ecological balance. India is the second largest producer of fish and aquaculture and seafood exportation is worth ₹60,000 crore. However, actualization of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the high seas is still limited. More specific, it provides a new framework of analysis for two of India’s less explored fisheries regions – Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
Specifically, the budget identifies several steps that aim at sustainable fishing activities. Among them, it consists of slashing customs duty on fish feed besides raw material used in frozen seafood that will help reduce overall cost of production and boost the position of seafood from India in the global market. Also, the budget has envisaged the creation of National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management at Bihar to promote food processing in the eastern zone. In terms of aid to fisheries sector the fiscal support is provided through Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). These programs are aimed at increasing production from aquaculture activities, better management of fish stocks, as well as physical development of the fish resources both from the seas and lakes. PMMSY has been allocated ₹1,441 crore for 2022-23; ₹1,885 crore for 2023-24; ₹2,298 crore for 2024-25; ₹2,465 crore for 2025-26 which indicates the government of India’s continued focus on the sector.
Hence, in its allocation of resources, this budget underscores the need for responsible fishing techniques with an aim of boosting the conservation of marine life resources. Such measures as the setting of MPA’s and adequate fishing practices will on the other help in the conservation of the marine ecosystems.
What is a Marine fishery?
Marine fishery activities include fishing, processing and marketing of fish and other aquatic species from the sea and other salt water bodies. These fisheries are important factors for food security, economic growth, and many more cultures, mainly for the persons within the coastal areas.
Marine fisheries involve various processes and techniques used in the collection of marine products. These range from small-scale artisanal fishing practices to large-scale industrial operations. Small-scale commercial fishing also uses small fishing gears and boats which are conventional in their nature and support millions of people across the globe. On the other hand, industrial fishing employs more of sophisticated fishing techniques including trawling and the use of long lines to catch fish for revenue making ventures.
From this perspective, the facts on marine fisheries also have much more than economic importance. They are a source of lean protein that feeds over 2.5 billion of the global human population, especially the populations in the third world. Further, marine line fish supplies many employment opportunities in the related sector like processing sector, transportation sector as well as the retail sector.
Those are the reasons why sustainable management of marine fisheries is crucial in order to maintain the stability of the ocean environment. Some human activities include over fishing, degradation of their habitats, and polluting the water bodies in ways that poses a threat to the future of fish stock. In order to overcome this entire problem, many developing countries and international organizations have put in place policies and conservation measures. This ranges from the catch quotas, Marine protected areas (MPAs) and sound fishing practices towards the environment in the seas.
For instance, marine fisheries are important in scientific research and investigation activities as a tool to monitor existing and new development. By observing the fish, the ways in which they group, their movement from one location to the other, and their interaction with other components in the sea, better management of the sea resources can be enhanced. This information contributes significantly to addressing the topic of climate change and its impact on the marine life as well as establishing necessary measures to conserve the species.
The Blue economy as a buzzword coined in the recent past is a concept that supports the efficient utilization of the marine resources in order to spur economic growth as well as lift of standards of living of the society. It is a well- known fact that marine fisheries have a far reaching importance in the blue economy given that they provide food, employment opportunities, and boost the economy while conserving the natural environment. It is important to understand that there are principles which should be followed to make the world’s marine fisheries sustainable so that its values can be enjoyed in future.
Difficulties and problems concerning the status of sustainability of the marine fisheries
The subject of marine sustainable fishery is as relevant as ever as the oceans are continuing to experience a lot of pressures in the wake of human influence and ecological changes. Sustaining the world’s marine fisheries is a very challenging task due to:
Overfishing
Of these factors, fishing has been a major problem since there is such a thing as overfishing. It happens when fish are caught and consumed at a higher rate than the rate at which this stock reproduces which culminates to low fish stocks. Over fishing not only leads to shortage of fish stock in the future but also affects marine habitats and species diversities.
Bycatch and Discarding
Bycatch involves the occurrence of other species like dolphins, turtles, and seabirds that are caught in fishing practices due to one reason or the other. Discarding is a way applied in unwanted or undersized fish back to the sea but which results to the death of the fish. Both Bycatch and discarding also means the loss of the species and harm the health of the marine environment. Conservation of the other species should also be put into consideration through exerting measures meant to reduce Bycatch and prevent discarding off tailored and selective fishing gears and techniques.
Governance and Policy
Subsequently, to meet the problems of sustainable management of marine fisheries, sound stewardship and policies should be implemented. This includes policies, being open to information as well as means by which people are engaged in a policy-making process. There is also a need to co-operate on an international basis, since many of these fish resources cross national frontiers for their feeding and spawning grounds.
Habitat Destruction
These invasive fishing techniques particularly the bottom trawling affects negatively to the marine environment including the corals, the sea-grass bed and any other benthic structures. These habitats are paramount important to support the reproduction and life survival of many marine organisms. MPAs and appropriate fishing methodologies in particular are effective measures for the protection and conservation of the fish stocks as well as the marine environment in which the fish find themselves trapped.
Climate Change
Climate change is a major threat to sustainability of the marine fisheries. Areas that may experience changes in rising sea temperatures, sea chemistry, currents and harsh weather conditions are also likely to experiences changes in the fish distribution, numbers as well as the breeding capability. Such changes have implications to the availability and distribution of fish and therefore, fishing communities are faced with difficulties in dealing with fluctuating fish resources. Combination of global attempts at controlling greenhouse gas emissions, and incorporating management practices are critical in reversing the impacts of climate change towards fisheries.
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing
IUU fishing is one of the emergent issues that threaten the sustainability of the fisheries. This can be fishing practices that are unlawful, for example fishing within the spans of time that is prohibited, fishing without authorization or exceeding the number of fish allowed within a given time period, or using fishing gears that are unlawful. IUU fishing led to largely affect fish stock, marines and aquatic related ecosystem, its unfair competition to legal fishers.
Socio-Economic Challenges
To this end, any management process geared towards sustainable fisheries should take into consideration the socio-economic status of the fishing people. This is emphasized by the fact that most of the coastal residents rely on fish for their living and any form of interruption in the availability of the fish will affect the economic status of the entire population. Marine fisheries and resource conservation for social sustainability is important.
Way forward
Managing fish stocks depends on maintaining the sustainability of the fisheries and resources present in sea and ocean for the protection of this natural resource and for the benefit of coastal inhabitant and even for the entire mankind. There are several approaches that can provide a roadmap for attaining the long-term sustainable marine fishing:
Implementing Effective Fisheries Management
Management of fish populations involve establishing and enforcing of quotas based on the subsequent recommendations made by scientists on the fish stock levels. Appropriate techniques that seek to apply changes to the conditions in the surrounding environment and the fish stock should be employed. This comprise includes the quota, and closed seasons; which are use of statistical assistance in setting and implementing them depending on the ability of the fish populations to recover.
Promoting Sustainable Fishing Practices
Sustainable fishing practices, therefore, need to be adopted in the fishing sectors around the world. This is accompanied by the use of selective fishing gear that is able to minimize on the effects of incidental catches on the species of concern. The measures that may be adopted in an attempt to guard the marine life include the use of circle hooks, turtle excluder devices, as well as restricted fishing grounds on crucial habitats. Promoting small scale and artisanal fisheries, most of which have minimal effects on the environment must also be supported.
Establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
Marine Protected Area (MPA) is geographic regions that are closed to fishing and in some cases to any sort of extraction. MPAs can be defined as the areas that conserve marine species in order to give birth and grow without human input. Increase the coverage of MPAs in the world and ensure that enforcement is effective to ensure returns of the developed stocks and maintenance of the ecosystem.
Enhancing Monitoring and Surveillance
For the achievement of sustainable fisheries, it is very important to fight against IUU fishing. MCS is particularly about implementing measures that would enable early identification of IUU players and halt their practices. It entails the adoption of new tracking devices like satellite tracking, surveillance using drone and improving inspection of the ports. There is also a necessity to expand international cooperation to exchange information for the purpose of combating IUU fishing.
Supporting Research and Innovation
Funding R&D for improved solutions for the fisheries industry is vital so as to enable the development of solutions for the future. This involves analyzing fish activities such as feeding, reproduction and movement as well as patterns of interaction with other organisms. Implementation of such like artificial intelligence and machine learning for stock assessment can result to eased management decisions due to efficiency in data compilation. Further, marketing of aquaculture products should be encouraged as an alternative source of seafood in order to lessen the burden on wild fish.
Strengthening Governance and Policy Frameworks
Comprehensive implementation of sustainability measures is only possible by strict governance and policy conditions. This includes, enhancement of legal frameworks and proper code of conducts, practice of openness, and engagement of stakeholders in the decision making process. There are many international legal frameworks for regulating the fish stocks including the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement that offers a framework for the management of the high-sea and trans-boundary fish stocks.
Empowering Coastal Communities
It is for this reason that there is need to involve the communities along the coast to oversee their own docks in order to support a sustainable fisheries business. Therefore, giving information on proper sustainable use of fishing practices, availing of other source of income, and the participation in fisheries management will help them to become more responsible for own resources from the seas. Promoting the CBFM suggest that the local knowledge and interest are taken into consideration based on the management plans.
Addressing Climate Change
Climate change strongly affects marine fisheries because it changes where fish live and decreases their population numbers while damaging ocean habitats. To manage climate change impacts countries worldwide should decrease pollution through lower emissions and prepare their operations to deal with climate change effects. Saving and building back marine environments including mangrove forests and coral reefs will help make marine life systems more resistant to climate effects.
Promoting Sustainable Seafood Consumption
Adults who learn about responsible seafood buying will naturally seek out environmental-friendly products. Consumers can trust seafood when they see the Marine Stewardship Council label because it means the fishery operated sustainably. Directing retail operators and dining establishments to use sustainable seafood creates both market demand and builds stronger fishery sustainability.
Building Partnerships and Collaboration
All groups must work together including governments and world bodies with businesses and citizens to protect our fish resources. Building partnerships helps groups exchange knowledge on efficient operations and share their most effective methods together. Marine fisheries sustainability needs coordinated efforts from different levels of society to resolve its multiple connected problems.
Multiple actions must unite to protect fisheries from the ocean so they can continue to thrive. Taking both strong individual and united steps will help us save our ocean resources and keep marine fishing alive for generations to come.