FISHERIES A SWOT Analysis

D. Srinivas
By

Fisheries Development Officer Dept. of Fisheries, Govt. of A.P. srinivasnfdb@gmail.com

Introduction
The Indian fisheries sector, which 50
years ago produced only 600 000 tonnes of fish, today produces 8.67 million tonnes.

Now India is second largest producer of

fish in the World with a share of 5.43% of total World fish production.

What is SWOT Analysis?

SWOT analysis is a strategic planning
method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats involved in any project under study.

This technique is credited to Stanford

University, USA.

SWOT Analysis - Fisheries

A SWOT analysis helps to identify the
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the fisheries sector thereby enabling the policy makers and the scientific community to continuously reorient themselves to the prevailing conditions.

 Strengths: These are the characteristics of an

enterprise that gives it an advantage over the others.

Weakness: These are the characteristics that

place it at a disadvantage relative to others.

Opportunities: These are the external

characteristics that can be exploited to get maximum advantage for the enterprise.

Threats: These are also the external elements

in the environment that could cause trouble for the enterprise.

Strengths of Indian Fisheries

Vast Fisheries resources in India
Second largest fish producer in the world Ranks second in aquaculture Production 3.41% of marine and 9.42 % of inland world fish production Source of livelihood for 14.48 million

Contribution of nearly 0.8% of GDP and 4.4% of Agriculture GDP

Strengths (condt..)
Potential Source of Food and nutritional Security.
Tool for Poverty alleviation and women empowerment.

About 11 fold increase in fish production

1950-51 to 8.67 mt in 2011-12)

(0.752 mt in

Seafood exports reached a record high of Rs.18,856

crore ($3.5 billion) in fiscal year 2012-13.

Contributing about 17% of national agriculture export.

Weakness
Yield gap in fisheries resources particularly
in reservoir fisheries. Average yields reduced to 1,000 kg/ ha where as potential is 3-4 thousand kgs / hectare

Fish stocks in India's territorial deep-sea

waters also remain untapped owing to the dearth of suitable fishing vessels

Weakness

(contd)

Post harvest losses are estimated worth over

Rs.15,000 Crores (both Marine and Inland) which is about 25% of the total Indian marine and Inland Industry which is worth of over Rs.61,000Crore are no organized and coherent efforts in the country to formulate and implement policies for the processed fish/fishery products for domestic markets.

Low value addition and fish Processing. There

Threats
The marine fish catch is stagnating due to uncontrolled
fishing and over exploitation of coastal resources.

Climate change and other factors are leading to

decrease in marine fish catches and the climate change is also having impact on inland fisheries ready to eat imported processed fishery products such as canned Tuna, Salmon etc. If India is not geared to meet the international competition there is increased threat from such products flooding the Indian markets.

The Indian retail departmental stores is already having

Threats

(Contd..)

Unsustainable capture inland fishery activities in the past led to

Non compliance of FAO CCRF principles

habitat degradation, multiple use of inland water bodies with least priority to fishery wealth.

Quality of the fish seed is the most important problem and there is
no organised brood stock production activity

No indigenously commercial fish feed mills Lack of infrastructure and skilled man power in disease diagnostic
labs in the States.

Opportunities
The potential yield of the Indian Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) has been revalidated as 4.41 million tonnes well as value addition in farming practices. Due to value addition, fish farmers and fishermen across the country will receive remunerative prices for their produce.

Fisheries and aqua-culture provide for diversification as

In case of aqua-culture, scope exists for bringing more

fish species with a focus on food fish, ornamental species and those with potentials for sport and tourism.

Opportunities (Contd..)
Growing demand for domestic fresh water fish. About 35% of
Indian population is fish eaters and the per capita consumption is 9.8 kg whereas the recommended intake is 13 kg.

Fish production can be enhanced in rain fed water bodies by 2 to 4

times use of MGNREGS

Over 250 million economically strong potential consumers of food

and the domestic demand for the fish and processed fish food is increasing very rapidly. The prices are more than doubled in the decade

References/ Acknowledgements

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Handbook on Fisheries Statistics 2011 Annual Report of DAHDF, Govt. of India DPR on NFPDB Twelfth Five Year Plan document Economic Survey 2012-13, Govt. of India