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250 words
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6 July 2026

India's marine fisheries sustainability

The topic involves a specific government report on marine fisheries sustainability that directly addresses critical issues of environmental degradation, resource management, and the livelihoods of vulnerable fishing communities, making it highly relevant for GS3 and GS2.

1 min read 2 questions 2 prelims

Notes

  • Government of India (Feb 11, 2026) report claims 91.1% of 135 evaluated fish stocks are sustainable.
  • CMFRI methodology relies primarily on landing data rather than direct stock assessments at sea.
  • FAO assessment suggests Indian marine fisheries production has plateaued with major stocks fully exploited.
  • Unregulated access and overcapacity of mechanised trawlers are identified as major drivers of fishery decline.
  • Inshore benthic environment degradation is attributed to dam construction, mangrove destruction, and industrial/agricultural pollution.
  • India possesses 64,414 mechanised fishing vessels with no restrictions on new entries.
  • Prohibition of mechanised fishing within 5 nautical miles (NM) is largely ineffective due to lack of enforcement capacity.
  • Deep-sea fishing potential is estimated by the FAO to offer only marginal increases in production.
  • Governance challenges include lack of state-level patrol capacity and exclusion of fishers from management processes.

Questions

  1. Critically examine the limitations of current marine fisheries management in India, specifically regarding the reliance on landing data versus stock assessments. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. The sustainability of India's marine fisheries is threatened by the degradation of inshore ecosystems and the expansion of mechanised trawling. Discuss the ecological and socio-economic implications of these trends and suggest policy interventions for effective coastal resource governance. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. Which institution is primarily responsible for compiling marine fisheries data in India?

  2. What is the legal definition of the territorial sea in India as per standard maritime regulations?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-07-06/india-s-marine-fisheries-sustainability