Transformative Fisheries Sector: Gujarat’s Booming Surge

Prime Highlight

Gujarat’s fisheries sector is expanding rapidly, with export value rising nearly tenfold from ₹625 crore in 2001 to over ₹6,000 crore in 2023–24.
Government initiatives and improved marine infrastructure are helping strengthen fishing communities and boost the state’s role in India’s marine economy.

Key Facts

Gujarat is India’s second-largest marine fish producer, averaging 8.56 lakh metric tonnes of marine fish annually over the past four years.
The state has launched a ₹1,622 crore fisheries package to support shrimp farming, cold storage, cage culture, and processing units.

Background

Gujarat’s fisheries sector is growing at a record pace, driven by rising production, strong export performance, and large-scale government support. Official data shows that fish export value has gone up almost ten times from ₹625 crore in 2001 to over ₹6,000 crore in 2023–24. This big rise shows that Gujarat is playing a larger role in India’s marine economy.

Gujarat has strengthened its position as India’s second-largest marine fish producer, thanks to its long 2,340 km coastline. In the last four years, the state produced an average of 8.56 lakh metric tonnes of marine fish every year. Better marine infrastructure and rising market demand have helped this growth.

A major centre of this rise is the Dholai Port on the Ambika River in Navsari. Built in 1995 and managed by the Department of Fisheries since 2007, the port now sees hundreds of boats arriving each day. The busy activity reflects the expanding fishing operations and the broader economic opportunities the sector creates.

Fishermen say the boom has increased their income and given them more stability. Boat owner Narsibhai Tandel said that crews travel 100 to 125 nautical miles into the sea and bring back fresh fish, which they sell at the port and in nearby markets. Women traders, who are important in local fish distribution, also depend on this daily supply for their earnings.

Supporting this momentum, the Gujarat government has introduced a ₹1,622 crore fisheries package to boost shrimp farming, cold storage facilities, cage culture, and processing units. Officials say the goal is to modernise the value chain from catch to export.

Local traders have also benefited. Trader Sushilaben said they earn ₹5 to ₹10 per bundle on commission sales and often buy extra stocks to supply other retailers.

As exports rise and new investments flow in, Gujarat continues to strengthen both traditional fishing communities and its growing modern marine economy.