India’s Aquaculture & Seafood Export Growth

The fisheries and aquaculture sector has firmly established itself as a critical driver of India’s economic growth, supporting the livelihoods of nearly three crore fishers and fish farmers. Positioned as the world's second-largest fish producer, India accounts for approximately 8% of global production and leads globally in shrimp production and exports. Driven by targeted policy intervention and cumulative government investment approvals exceeding ₹39,272 crore ($5.21 billion) across flagship schemes since 2015, annual fish production more than doubled from 95.79 lakh tonnes in 2013–14 to a record 198 lakh tonnes in 2024–25, powered by a 147% surge in inland fisheries. Over the same period, seafood exports scaled significantly, rising from ₹30,213 crore ($4.99 billion) to hit a record ₹73,890 crore ($8.36 billion) in FY26. Technological advancements under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)—notably Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and Biofloc technology—have modernized production efficiency and sustainability. RAS enables intensive farming by recycling up to 90–95% of water, facilitating high-yield aquaculture closer to urban centers and export hubs. Supported by an investment allocation of ₹4,120 crore ($466.22 million), PMMSY has sanctioned 9,467 RAS units and 4,573 Biofloc units nationwide. Beyond export-focused coastal shrimp farming, these advanced systems are being deployed across cold-water clusters in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh for high-value trout cultivation, further reinforcing India's global seafood footprint.