The ICAR-CIFA will organise a national seminar entitled ‘Aquaculture Diversification: Way forward for Blue Revolution’ to promote the culture and conservation of indigenous fish species through diversified aquaculture system which may support rural livelihood and the national food security.

Fish forms the main source of animal protein in the food basket of almost half of Indians.  Of the 9.58 million metric tonnes (2013-14) annual fish production from the freshwater, marine and brackish water sector, only a fraction is being exported and the bulk caters to need of the domestic market.

Even then, the current consumption levels at 7.02 and 9.06 kg/capita/yr for the rural and urban population, respectively, are below the ICMR recommendation at 11 kg/capita/yr and much below the same in the developed countries.

It is estimated that the average per capita consumption for fish would increase to 11.6 kg by 2050. Such higher fish requirement coupled with the population growth put the required fish production at approximately 16.9 to 22.4 MMT in 2050, which is almost double the present level.

At present, the inland sector with fish production at 6.14 MMT contributes the major share (64.1 per cent ) of the total fish produced in the country. While fish production from the marine capture has been almost stagnant at 3.0-3.5 MMT during last decade, the brackish water sector has almost been synonymous with the shrimp farming and catering to the export market.

Both marine and brackish water aquaculture sectors have their limitations with problems of large scale adoption to increase the fish production. Such situations leave the entire responsibility of bridging the future gap of additional 9.0-10 MMT fish requirement on the freshwater sector and more particularly on the aquaculture sector which contribute more than 83 per cent (5.1 MMT) of the inland share.

The most important challenge the freshwater sector faces today is how to bridge the future gap of demand and supply of fish.

Further, the increased production has to be achieved against the odds of land, water  and labourer scarcity, climate change effect.

Since availability of seed is a pre-requisite, mass scale seed production and rearing technologies for these new species have already been standardized in ICAR-CIFA. Efforts are also on to bring new-species under the culture umbrella.