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The regional workshop, focused on strengthening sustainable aquatic food value chains
Aquaculture Surge Counters Stagnant Marine Fisheries Across Asia, Driving Global Production
INDIA
Monday, December 08, 2025, 02:00 (GMT + 9)
India Emerges as a Key Driver of the ‘Blue Revolution’ While Facing Critical Challenges in Post-Harvest Loss and Waste.
CHENNAI —A major shift is underway in Asia's crucial fisheries sector, with countries rapidly accelerating their reliance on aquaculture to compensate for a continent-wide stagnation in marine capture fisheries. This transformation is underscored by preliminary findings from a regional study by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO).
The Aquaculture Boom: Key Numbers
The study, presented on Tuesday at a high-level regional workshop in Chennai, revealed that Asia continues to dominate the global market, accounting for over 70 per cent of global fish production, a figure increasingly propelled by farmed fish.
 India stands out as a leading example of this 'Blue Revolution.' The nation recorded one of the fastest expansions in inland aquaculture, with production soaring by 167 per cent—from 1.5 million tonnes in 2014 to nearly 4 million tonnes in 2023.
Dr P Krishnan (on the right), Director of BOBP-IGO, highlighted India as a "leading driver of Asia’s shift from wild-caught to farmed fish."
Pressure on Wild Stocks
The rapid turn to farming reflects the mounting pressure on wild resources. The report pointed to a steady decline in marine capture fisheries across several nations:
Despite the strong push for exports, particularly frozen shrimp, India's fish production is vital for domestic nutrition, with the country consuming about 82 per cent of its total fish production locally.
The Crisis of Fish Loss and Waste
A significant concern raised by the BOBP-IGO study is the alarming issue of post-harvest loss and waste, which severely undermines food security.
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India’s marine fish losses have risen from 2.78 per cent to over 10 per cent.
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Losses for dry fish are even more critical, reaching as high as 37 per cent.
 These losses are primarily driven by inadequate cold-chain capacity, poor handling practices, and unhygienic landing and drying sites. The report warned that this waste results in reduced food availability, significant financial setbacks for small-scale fishers, and a critical drain of essential nutrients for low-income households.
D V Swamy (on the left), Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), noted, "While India’s USD 7.5 billion seafood export industry is driving unprecedented quality control, the domestic supply chain faces numerous vulnerabilities, posing significant food safety risks to local consumers."
Gender and Investment Recommendations
The report also brought crucial focus to gender roles and necessary infrastructure investments.
Women remain the backbone of India’s post-harvest sector, constituting up to 95 per cent of the workforce involved in fish marketing, curing, and peeling. However, this labour is largely informal and undervalued, prompting the study to call for targeted, gender-responsive interventions.
To mitigate the current challenges, the study recommended a series of actions, including:
- -Targeted investments in decentralised cold-chain infrastructure.
- -Scaling up the use of insulated boxes and chilled seawater systems.
- -Improving landing centres and modern drying and processing technologies.
The regional workshop, focused on strengthening sustainable aquatic food value chains, was organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and BOBP-IGO, and brought together delegations from 12 Asian countries. FAO officials, including Dr Omar Penarubia, Angela Lentisco, and Meeta Punjabi Mehta, stressed that strengthening these value chains is paramount for regional nutrition, livelihoods, and climate resilience.
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