India’s Fisheries Sector by the Numbers: 2024-25
India has cemented its position as the world’s second-largest fish producer, accounting for roughly 8% of global fish output. Six years after the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), official data from the Department of Fisheries shows a sector that has grown across every headline indicator — production, exports, jobs, and budget support.
Fish Production: 141.64 to a Record 197.75 Lakh Tonnes
Total fish production climbed from 141.64 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to a record 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, according to the Department of Fisheries. The year-wise trajectory during PMMSY’s implementation period shows uninterrupted growth (Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 3898, answered 11 August 2026):
| Year | Fish Production (lakh tonnes) |
|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 147.25 |
| 2021-22 | 162.48 |
| 2022-23 | 175.45 |
| 2023-24 | 183.93 |
| 2024-25 | 197.75 |
Taken over a longer lens, production more than doubled from 95.79 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 — a rise of about 106%. Average aquaculture productivity has also improved to 4.77 tonnes per hectare.
Seafood Exports: ₹46,663 Crore to ₹73,890 Crore
Seafood exports grew from ₹46,663 crore in 2019-20 to ₹73,890 crore in 2025-26. In 2023-24, India exported 16.98 lakh tonnes of seafood worth ₹62,408 crore, with frozen shrimp remaining the dominant export commodity and the US and China serving as key markets (PIB).
Jobs: 58 Lakh Employment Opportunities
PMMSY has created direct and indirect employment opportunities for about 58 lakh persons in fisheries and aquaculture-related activities. Including all schemes implemented since 2014-15, the Department of Fisheries reports 74.66 lakh employment opportunities generated. Fisheries now account for 7.43% of Agricultural GVA — the highest share among agriculture and allied sectors.
Budget and Project Approvals
- PMMSY was launched in 2020-21 with a total outlay of ₹20,750 crore.
- The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated a record ₹2,500 crore to PMMSY (Budget Estimates) — the highest-ever annual allocation under the scheme.
- As of 11 August 2026, projects worth ₹21,394.88 crore (Central share ₹9,510.89 crore) had been approved for 2020-21 to 2025-26, based on proposals from States and UTs.
- ₹3,741.89 crore was approved for fishing harbours, fish-landing centres and dredging; another ₹2,797 crore went to cold-chain and marketing infrastructure.
- 2,195 Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) were supported through projects worth ₹544.86 crore.
- The National Fisheries Digital Platform crossed 37.23 lakh registrations by September 2026.
Social Safety Net for Fishers
- Group accidental insurance coverage for 34.71 lakh fishers (investment of ₹27.75 crore).
- 4.49 lakh Kisan Credit Cards extended, with loans of ₹3,569.60 crore for working capital needs of fishers and fish farmers.
- Nutritional support during the fishing ban/lean period for 4.33 lakh fisher families annually (total outlay ₹1,681.21 crore).
What’s Next
PMMSY continued in its existing form through September 2026; NITI Aayog evaluated the scheme alongside other Centrally Sponsored Schemes and recommended its continuation. The record ₹2,500 crore allocation for 2026-27 signals deepening, rather than tapering, government investment in the fisheries value chain.
Sources: Department of Fisheries / PIB; Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 3898 (answered 11/08/2026); Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 1400 (answered 28/07/2026). Figures verified as of 20 October 2026.