K'taka, AP record highest fish production growth rate, says Assocham

Karnataka has emerged as the leading coastal state with highest growth of fish production, clocking a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 11.48 per cent during 2004-05 and 2010-11, according to industry body ASSOCHAM.

With about five lakh tonnes of annual fish production, Karnataka accounts for almost six per cent of overall fish production in India, which is currently estimated at about 91 lakh tonnes according to The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). Besides, in value terms the fisheries sector in Karnataka is worth about Rs 4,000 crore.

With over 300 km of coastline and almost six lakh hectares of inland waters, Karnataka has huge scope for further growth and investments in fisheries sector. Besides, about eight lakh fishermen are involved in fishing business across Karnataka, said the industry body.

Amid leading coastal states in India, Andhra Pradesh ranks second in terms of growth in fish production with a CAGR of about eight per cent. With over 13.5 lakh tonnes of fish production annually, the state accounts for over 16 per cent of country’s total fish production. AP ranks first in terms of fish production.

West Bengal (4.85 per cent), Tamil Nadu (4.47 per cent), Gujarat (3.37 per cent) and Odisha (3.25 per cent) are the other leading fish producing states in India which recorded fish production growth rate between three and four per cent during 2004-05 and 2009-10.

Kerala recorded least growth rate of fish production between the aforesaid period as the fish production has come down from about 8.66 lakh tonnes in 2008-09 to the current level of about 6.82 lakh tonnes, said ASSOCHAM.

Besides, growth of fish production in Maharashtra (0.86%) was also below one per cent as the fish production has fallen from about 5.96 lakh tonnes in 2006-07 to an estimated 5.82 lakh tonnes.

Goa has registered a negative growth rate of fish production of about minus 33 per cent as the fish production has slipped from a whopping 9.9 lakh tonnes in 2004-05 to the current level of just about 94,000 tonnes mostly due to over-exploitation of fishery resources, highlights the ASSOCHAM analysis.

Of the non-coastal states, Haryana has recorded a staggering 14.7 per cent growth rate of fish production followed by Chattisgarh (11.29 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (7.05 per cent), said ASSOCHAM.

Fish production in India is rising at a CAGR of about five per cent and is likely to cross 104 lakh tonnes by 2015. In terms of value, exports of fish from India are likely to reach Rs 16,000 crore by 2015 from the current level of about Rs 13,500 crore.

Captured fish accounts for about 70 per cent of India’s total fish production annually, while aquaculture accounts for about 30 per cent.

India is the second largest fish producer in the world after China and accounts for nearly six per cent of global fish production of about 180 million tonnes, said ASSOCHAM.

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