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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech on February 1, 2025 underscored the need to unlock the potential of India’s marine sector by establishing a sustainable fisheries management framework, particularly focusing on the Andaman and Lakshadweep islands.
While the announcement has been welcomed by some fish workers as a step towards economic growth, others have expressed concerns over its impact on marine ecosystems and fish stocks, already under pressure from climate change and human activity.
Critics are worried that the government is focusing too much on the untapped fishing potential of the island clusters. Overfishing and high catch rates have left little time for marine species to recover in various fishing regions of the country, which threatens many marine species.
Over 4 per cent of India’s fish stocks are currently facing overfishing, while 8.2 per cent have already been overfished according to a 2022 report by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
“Seafood exports are valued at Rs 60,000 crore. To unlock the untapped potential of the marine sector, our government will bring in an enabling framework for sustainable harnessing of fisheries from Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and High Seas, with a special focus on the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands,” Sitaraman stated in her speech.
Lakshadweep’s pole-and-line fishing, a selective and sustainable method, and traditional line fishing in the Andaman Islands have long supported local livelihoods while preserving fish stocks. However, fisheries experts have raised concerns about whether the government will support these indigenous practices or allow large corporations to enter the market, potentially leading to overfishing and resource depletion.
Declining fish availability along India’s coasts — from Gujarat to Kerala and West Bengal to Tamil Nadu — has added to these worries. Staples like mackerel and sardines are becoming scarce in Kerala, partly due to warming seas driving fish migration to the Bay of Bengal, suggested the CMFRI study.
Charles George, president of the Kerala Fish Workers’ Union, linked the government’s focus on the island clusters to rising tuna exports, which grew by 31.83 per cent last year. Tuna, abundant in the deep seas surrounding the islands, has become a key target as stocks in traditional fishing areas dwindle.
A recent meeting in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, hosted by the Union Fisheries Department, explored the region’s potential as a tuna export hub. While the islands hold significant resources for tuna fishing, marine experts warn that large-scale corporate involvement could lead to overfishing and illegal practices. Further, it could also threaten the unique rights and economic sustainability of the island communities inhabited by Indigenous peoples
Dr KV Thomas, a retired National Centre for Earth Science Studies fisheries scientist, cautioned against a collapse of marine ecosystems, which could have severe environmental and human costs, particularly for Indigenous communities dependent on these resources.
The global tuna market, valued at over $41.94 billion (Rs 3.63 lakh crore), is driving increased interest in the Indian Ocean, the second-largest region for tuna production, contributing 21 per cent to global output.
A concept note from the Union Fisheries Department projected that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands could annually produce 64,500 tonnes of tuna, including 24,000 tonnes of yellowfin tuna and 22,000 tonnes of skipjack tuna. Additionally, there may be 500 tonnes of bigeye tuna, and 18,000 tonnes of neritic tuna available for export each year from the Union Territory.
In Lakshadweep, tuna is primarily transported to Kerala for local consumption, where it is processed into “mass,” a dried fish product popular in Gulf countries. Meanwhile, India exported 51,626 tonnes of tuna worth $87.96 million in 2023-24, mostly from nearshore neritic tuna species.
“Despite the potential, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to modern fishing technologies, and insufficient fish processing facilities have hindered the development of the tuna fishery in the two union territories,” said a senior official from CMFRI. Without a comprehensive fisheries management framework, the sustainability of tuna populations could be at risk.
Marine expert AJ Vijayan emphasised the need for skill development in modern tuna fishing techniques, post-catch management, and processing to enhance exports and ensure high-quality products
The central government anticipates that the growth of the tuna sector could create significant employment opportunities for local communities, particularly fishermen and workers in processing units, according to sources with CMFRI. For island residents with limited protein sources, developing the tuna fishery could improve food security as well.