A country, which has restrained scope to additionally use up its land harvests, must look towards the sea. India is gifted with an enormous prospective to obtain its food from the exclusive economic zone of closely two million sq. km. India has rich marine fisheries to develop and exploit, with a massive ocean floor, dynamic sea currents and large rivers dumping fish food into the sea. Marine fish haul was half a million tonnes in 1950-51. By 1997-98 it arose to 3 million tonnes. The inland fish haul was 2.4 million tonnes. However, automated fishing has harmfully struck upon traditional fishermen. To amplify its marine fish haul, it needs huge motorized fishing craft and vessels. It must also rev up it`s landing and wharfing facilities in big and small fishing harbours. Cold storage and processing facilities of marine products is an additional prerequisite. Substantial advancement has been made in this regard. The fishing vessels of the fishermen are under construction- both in Indian and foreign shipyards.

Similarly, inland fishing will be further developed, for which there is sufficient scope in rivers and numerous immense water reservoirs built over the past 40 years.

The country has infinite scope to step-up employment opportunities in this bright arena. In 1997-98, exports of fish and fish products had brought home 1160 million U.S. dollars.