BHOPAL 25 October 2026: India has entered the development phase of a dedicated National Plan of Action (NPOA) for inland small-scale fisheries, aiming to improve fishing communities’ livelihoods, strengthen resource management and promote sustainable fisheries practices.
Union Fisheries Secretary Dr Abhilaksh Likhi formally launched the development phase on Friday at a national workshop in Bhopal. The initiative is being led by the Union Department of Fisheries in collaboration with the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), under the framework of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The proposed action plan will focus on improving coordination across the sector, addressing region-specific challenges and ensuring that fisheries development translates into tangible benefits for small-scale fishers.
India Targets 30 Million Tonnes of Fish Production
Addressing the workshop, Dr Likhi said India had set a target of achieving 30 million tonnes of fish production over the next five years. Seafood exports are also expected to increase to ₹1.25 lakh crore, he said.
India’s annual fish production currently stands at 19.7 million tonnes, with inland fisheries accounting for approximately three-fourths of the total output. Seafood exports have crossed ₹70,000 crore, according to the figures cited by the Fisheries Secretary.
Dr Likhi emphasised that growth in fish production and exports must go hand in hand with protecting the livelihoods of small-scale fishing communities.
He called for a mission-mode outreach programme to take the proposed action plan to fishing communities across the country, stressing that the document must lead to practical improvements in livelihoods rather than remain confined to government offices.
Climate Resilience and Water Quality in Focus
The proposed action plan is expected to address growing environmental pressures on inland fisheries, including climate change and deteriorating water quality.
Dr Likhi highlighted declining oxygen levels in water bodies as one of the challenges affecting fisheries and called for climate-resilient measures that reflect the experiences of fishing communities.
The plan will seek to strengthen sustainable fisheries management while improving value chains to help fishers secure better incomes. It is also expected to incorporate local knowledge and region-specific approaches to address the varied challenges faced by fishing communities across India.
Action Plan to Cover Diverse Inland Ecosystems
India’s inland fisheries sector encompasses a wide range of ecosystems, including rivers, canals, reservoirs, lakes, floodplain wetlands, tanks and cold-water systems.
The diversity of these environments and the communities dependent on them could provide opportunities to develop locally appropriate fisheries management models, according to Dr Likhi. He also highlighted the potential for India’s experience to support collaboration with the FAO and inform approaches that could be applied in other regions.
The development phase will examine several key areas, including fishing rights and resource management, employment and decent work, gender equality, value chains, post-harvest trade, disaster risks and climate change.
Stakeholder Consultations to Shape Final Plan
A two-day national workshop in Bhopal brought together experts from fisheries institutions and other stakeholders to identify priorities and prepare a framework for the plan’s development.
The next stage will involve consultations with fishing communities and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the proposed measures reflect their needs and local operating conditions.
Dr P. Krishnan, Director of BOBP-IGO, said the plan would cover a range of issues affecting small-scale inland fisheries, from resource management and employment to climate-related risks and post-harvest trade.
Madhya Pradesh Fisheries Secretary Swantantra Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary Dr Gunjan Krishna and FAO Project Officer Giulia Gorelli also addressed the workshop.
The action plan is expected to be finalised following stakeholder consultations, with a public launch planned for the following month, according to the information provided by the organisers.
The initiative is intended to establish a framework for more sustainable inland fisheries development while supporting the livelihoods of communities that depend on freshwater resources across India.
