India's 2024 Marine Fish Landings Report

Summary of Marine Fish Landings in India for 2024

• Overall Landings: India’s marine fish landings in 2024 reached 3.47 million tonnes, reflecting a slight decline of 2% from 2023, as reported by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

• Top States by Fish Landings:

  • Gujarat: Maintained its position as the leading state with landings of 754,000 tonnes.
  • Tamil Nadu: Followed with 679,000 tonnes.
  • Kerala: Recorded 610,000 tonnes.

• Most Landed Species: The Indian mackerel emerged as the most landed species with a total catch of 263,000 tonnes, closely followed by oil sardine with 241,000 tonnes.

• Species Decline and Increase:

  • A decrease was observed in several species including Indian mackerel, threadfin breams, oil sardine, ribbonfish, non-penaeid shrimps, and cephalopods.
  • Conversely, increases were noted in the landings of lesser sardines, penaeid shrimps, anchovies, and tunnies.

• Regional Trends in Landings:

  • The west coast experienced an overall decrease in fish landings.
  • In contrast, the east coast showed an upward trend in landings, except for Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

• State Performance:

  • Maharashtra recorded the highest growth among states at 47% compared to the previous year.
  • Other states with significant gains include:
    • West Bengal: 35% increase.
    • Tamil Nadu: 20% increase.
    • Odisha: 18% increase.
  • Notable declines were observed in states like Karnataka, Goa, and Daman & Diu.

• Monitoring Efforts: Approximately 250,000 fishing trips were monitored to gather the data for these estimates.

This data highlights the dynamic nature of India's marine fishing industry, showcasing both growth in certain regions and species, while also revealing challenges faced in other areas. The information can be vital for policy formulation and improvement of fishing practices to ensure sustainable fishing efforts across India's diverse marine ecosystem.