Gujarat Budget | What’s for fisheries sector? Rs-1,622 crore package, key policy decision, and more

As the announcements were made, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel called the package “unprecedented” and hailed Gujarat’s commitment to give impetus to “blue economy”.

Before making the announcement, the finance minister said, “Our government emphasises on fisheries and animal husbandry along with agriculture to increase livelihood

He further said, “For the development of fisheries which is a highly employment intensive sector, I announce a package of Rs 1,622 crore to support fish farming, storage, processing and export. Because of this, 27,000 mechanical and non-mechanical boats and 2 lakh fishermen will benefit from different schemes, mainly from development of infrastructure activities.”

The Rs 1,622 crore package includes Rs 360 crore for creating infrastructure at 104 notified fish landing centers, Rs 353 for Pradhan Mantri Matsyasampada Scheme, Rs 350 crore for diesel subsidy, Rs 144 crore for assistance to purchase various equipment, Rs 62 crore for inland fisheries, Rs 50 crore for a special package to double the production of shrimp in aquaculture sector in next three to five years, Rs 50 crore for blast freezer cold room for preservation of marine fish products in hygienic conditions, Rs 32 crore for input operational cost of cage culture to fishermen in tribal areas, Rs 30 crore for cage culture in brackish water, and Rs 25 crore for fisheries by-product processing unit.

The announcement has come even as the fish production in Gujarat has been steadily increasing since 2020-21. As per the Socio-Economic Review (SER) report of Gujarat for the year 2024-25, the total fish production (marine and inland) of Gujarat in 2020-21 was 7.44 lakh tonne, in 2021-22 it was 8.73 lakh tonne, in 2022-23 it was 8.97 lakh tonne and in 2023-24, it was 8.99 lakh tonne.

The same trend is being witnessed in terms of total worth of fish production in the state. In 2020-21, Gujarat produced fish worth Rs 8,773 crore, in 2021-22 worth Rs 11,221 crore, in 2022-23 worth Rs 11,743 crore and in 2023-24, it produced fish worth Rs 15,710 crore.

The foreign export of fish is also witnessing a steadily upward trend since 2020-21 with Rs 4,254 crore in 2020-21, Rs 5,232 crore in 2021-22, Rs 5,864 crore in 2022-23, and Rs 6,087 crore in 2023-24.

During the year 2024-25 (up to October-2024), the total fish production has been estimated at 5.10 lakh tonnes worth Rs 7,840.25 crore (3.55 lakh tonnes marine fish production and 1.55 lakh tonnes inland fish production) and export of fish and fish products is estimated at 1.70 lakh tonnes, worth Rs 3,060.55 crore during the period.

Gujarat covers about 1/5 of the country’s coastline and contributes around 17% of its total marine production. The fishing area extends from the Lakhpat of Kutch district in the north of the state to Umbergaon of Valsad district in the south. Beside this, the Gulf of Kutch has a favourable atmosphere for the growth of different types of oysters, shell fish and seaweeds. Fisheries sector remains an important source of food, nutrition, employment and income, especially for the rural populations.

The SER report further notes, “At the end of October-2024(P), there are 35,730 fishing boats registered in the State, out of which 26,968 are mechanised boats and 8,762 are non-mechanised boats.”