Roadmap for resilient and inclusive transformation of the fisheries sector in India

ABSTRACT India’s fisheries sector has expanded rapidly under initiatives such as the Blue Revolution and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, positioning the country as the world’s second-largest fish producer and supporting millions of livelihoods. However, growing pressures on freshwater and coastal ecosystems, coupled with climate impacts, ecological risks, infrastructure gaps, and limited community participation, threaten aquatic biodiversity, ecosystem integrity, and social equity. Production-oriented growth, if poorly aligned with sustainability principles, may undermine long-term conservation and resilience. Drawing on existing evidence and policy experience, this letter highlights key concerns and policy-relevant gaps in India’s fisheries and aquaculture expansion. We emphasize the need for science-based, participatory, and adaptive management that integrates conservation objectives, climate resilience, and inclusive governance. Strengthening the role of local communities, particularly small-scale fishers and women’s groups, is essential for stewardship, compliance, and ensuring environmentally sustainable and socially equitable fisheries development. Key policy insights Aquatic food systems in India must be governed through sustainable, ecosystem-based policies that integrate biodiversity conservation with economic growth, ensuring long-term resilience of freshwater and coastal ecosystems. Fisheries expansion should be aligned with aquatic biodiversity protection by enforcing science-based standards for stocking, hatcheries, and monitoring, thereby supporting conservation while sustaining production. Inclusive governance that empowers fishers and local community institutions improves compliance, equity, and sustainable management of freshwater resources. Climate-resilient and adaptive fisheries strategies are essential to safeguard aquatic ecosystems, livelihoods, and the national economy under increasing environmental uncertainty. Balanced investment in aquaculture and capture fisheries can strengthen conservation outcomes while securing food security and income for fishers.