Aquaculture booms in Asia as marine fisheries stall

Thiruvananthapuram: With marine capture fisheries stagnating across Asia, countries are accelerating their shift towards aquaculture, according to preliminary findings from a regional study.

India has recorded one of the fastest expansions in inland aquaculture, with production rising 167 per cent from 1.5 million tonnes in 2014 to nearly 4 million tonnes in 2023, the study by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) said. Asia continues to account for over 70 per cent of global fish production, increasingly driven by farmed fish.

The findings were presented on the opening day of a three- day high -level regional workshop in Chennai on Tuesday. The workshop brought together delegations from 12 countries and was organised jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and BOBP-IGO to strengthen sustainable aquatic food value chains for improved food security and nutrition in Asia.

Presenting the report, BOBP Director Dr. P Krishnan said India is emerging as a key driver of the continent’s shift from wild-caught to farmed fish. Aquaculture’s share in India’s fisheries employment has grown from 17 per cent in 1995 to around 40 per cent in 2020, the report noted.

The study said mounting pressure on wild fish stocks has led to steady declines in marine capture fisheries across several countries. China’s marine landings have dropped by 15–20 per cent since 2015, while Sri Lanka and Malaysia have also reported multi-year downturns.

Despite a strong export sector led by frozen shrimp, about 82 per cent of India’s total fish production is consumed domestically, underscoring its significance for national nutrition.

However, the study raised concerns over rising fish loss and waste. India’s marine fish losses have increased from 2.78 per cent to over 10 per cent, while dry fish losses are as high as 37 per cent, driven by inadequate cold-chain facilities, poor handling, and unhygienic landing and drying sites. Such losses reduce food availability, impose financial burdens on small-scale fishers, and drain vital nutrients for low-income households.

The report also highlighted the crucial yet undervalued role of women. Women account for up to 95 per cent of the workforce involved in fish marketing, curing, and peeling, much of which remains informal.

To address these challenges, the study recommended investments in decentralised cold-chain systems, insulated boxes, chilled seawater units, upgraded landing centres, and modernised drying and processing technologies.

During the workshop’s inauguration, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) Chairman D V Swamy said that while India’s USD 7.5 billion seafood export industry has made significant gains in quality control, the domestic supply chain continues to face vulnerabilities that pose food safety risks to consumers.

FAO officials, including Dr Omar Penarubia, Angela Lentisco, and Meeta Punjabi Mehta, emphasised the need to strengthen aquatic food value chains to enhance nutrition, livelihoods, and climate resilience across the region.