New Delhi, August 18: The Department of Fisheries celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day on August 15 in New Delhi with fishers and fish farmers from across the country, reaffirming its commitment to empowering the fisheries sector and strengthening India’s Blue Economy.
The sector supports livelihoods for around 3 crore fishers and fish farmers, while India is the world’s second-largest fish producer and a leading producer and exporter of shrimp. Since 2015, the government has invested ₹39,272 crore through key fisheries schemes, including PMMSY, FIDF and PM-MKSSY.
The Department also organised an interaction with beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) and their spouses following the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort. Five beneficiaries — Nitul Ch Das from Assam, Suresh Chandra Rout from Odisha, Ekanath Rama Mukane from Maharashtra, Akash Singh from Uttar Pradesh and Misha Singh from Bihar — were invited to an “At Home” reception hosted by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. The beneficiaries shared how government support helped improve livelihoods, adopt modern practices and expand income opportunities.
The Department said youth, fishers and fish farmers will play a crucial role in the future of the sector through innovation, modern aquaculture, digital traceability, cold-chain management, value addition, branding and exports. It reiterated its focus on policy support, infrastructure development, technology adoption and inclusive welfare measures to build a resilient and sustainable fisheries sector and advance the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
