A new report from Niti Aayog has outlined the major challenges facing the development of the sector, pinpointing critical gaps in infrastructure, technology, and financing that hinder the utilisation of vast untapped resources. The document identifies a significant lack of adequate infrastructure for deep-sea operations.
Of India's more than 90 fishing harbours, "only a handful are equipped to handle larger vessels, with adequate draft, berthing facilities, and support services." The situation is similar at landing centres, where the "majority of the over 1547 fish landing centres are basic, lacking proper infrastructure for offloading, sorting, and preserving deep-sea and offshore catch." This often leads to poor fish quality, hampering export potential and resulting in lower market prices.
Technological shortcomings are another major barrier. The report states that vessels frequently "lack access to advanced fish-finding technologies like sonar, echo sounders, and satellite-based tracking systems, making it challenging to locate and monitor fish stocks efficiently." Furthermore, the deployment of vessel monitoring and communication systems is "inadequate," which hampers effective monitoring, safety, and coordination.
The report notes that fishermen are increasingly using affordable Chinese-made instruments, but these are "not officially recognised by the Department of Fisheries (DOF)."
The sector is also burdened by high operational costs. "Extended voyages and long distances travelled by deep-sea fishing vessels result in high fuel usage," the report says, and "fluctuations in fuel prices can exacerbate financial burden." Other substantial costs include crew expenses for larger crews on longer voyages, and regular vessel maintenance and repair due to the harsh marine environment. Acquiring and maintaining specialised fishing gear and onboard processing facilities is also "cost-prohibitive."
Access to capital remains a critical challenge, particularly for small-scale operators. The report highlights "limited access to institutional financing," citing the "perceived high-risk nature of operations, lack of collateral or financial history, and limited understanding of the sector’s dynamics among lenders." It adds that "banks would be reluctant to provide credit due to the absence of regulatory frameworks, proper licensing and effective governance in the sector."
Sustainability concerns are central to the report's analysis. It warns that species such as tuna, billfish, and deep-sea shrimps are "highly migratory and vulnerable to overfishing." The issue of bycatch is also flagged, where operations "often result in the unintentional catch of non-target species, such as sharks, marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds."
Certain fishing practices, such as bottom trawling, can cause "significant damage to sensitive marine habitats." The effects of climate change, including "ocean warming, acidification, and changes in ocean currents and productivity," are also noted as profound impacts on fish stocks.
The strategy report from Niti Aayog thus lays bare the multifaceted hurdles that must be addressed for India to sustainably harness the economic potential of its deep-sea and offshore fisheries. |
