Sagar Parikrama is a navigation journey, set to be conducted across all coastal states and Union Territories (UTs) in India. The initiative is led by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Its main aim is to develop an understanding of the problems faced by Coastal Fisher folk, through interacting with fishermen, fisher communities and stakeholders at different locations. The initiative is part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava’, honouring India’s freedom fighters, sailors and fishers.
The Journey of Sagar Parikrama
The journey of Sagar Parikrama will commence from Mandvi, Gujarat in its first phase. Subsequent phases will cover other districts of Gujarat and other State/UTs. The initiative commences on 5th March 2022, starting from Mandvi and ending at Porbandar on 6th March 2022. The entire distance will trace the coastline of Mandvi, situated where the river Rukmavati meets the Gulf of Kutch, a part of the Arabian Sea.
Sagar Parikrama: A Symbol of Solidarity
Sagar Parikrama reflects Atma Nirbhar Bharat’s spirit, demonstrating solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers, and concerned stakeholders. It aims to provide a sustainable balance between marine fisheries resources’ utilisation for the nation’s food security and livelihoods of coastal fisher communities, while also protecting marine ecosystems.
India’s Rich Fisheries Sector
India is home to a bustling fisheries sector, being the second major producer of fish through aquaculture worldwide. As the 4th largest exporter of fish globally, India contributes 7.7% to total international fish production. The fisheries sector supports the livelihood of over 2.8 crore people in India and has demonstrated consistent growth, with 10.87% average annual growth since 2014-15.
Challenges and Growth of the Fisheries Sector
Despite certain infrastructure challenges, the measures by the Central government have ensured continued growth of more than 10% annually for the fisheries sector. During the last five years, the Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture sector has registered an average annual growth of 7.53%. During 2019-20, the country exported 12.89 lakh metric tons of fisheries products valued at Rs 46,662 crore (USD 6.68 billion).
Government Initiatives in Fisheries Sector
Certain identified initiatives are propelling growth within this sector. Fishing Harbours, Seaweed Park, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Palk Bay Scheme, Marine Fisheries Bill, and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) are some core initiatives. The provision of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to fishers and the work of the Marine Products Export Development Authority are also significant in this context. These collectively aim to unlock the sector’s vast potential while ensuring robust growth.