Every year, World Fisheries Day is celebrated on November 21 by fishing communities across the globe. The day highlights the importance of healthy ocean ecosystems and ensuring sustainable stocks of fisheries. The fisheries sector plays an important role in the socio-economic development of the fishing community in any country. It is the source of livelihood for a large section of the economically backward population. This day is marked every year to demonstrate solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders throughout the world.
History: World Fisheries Day is celebrated on 21st November every year to demonstrate solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders throughout the world. It started in 1997 where “World Forum of Fish Harvesters & Fish Workers” met at New Delhi leading to formation of “World Fisheries Forum” with representatives from 18 countries and signed a declaration advocating for a global mandate of sustainable fishing practices and policies. The event aims to draw attention to overfishing, habitat destruction and other serious threats to the sustainability of our marine and freshwater resources. The celebrations serve to focus on changing the way the world manages global fisheries to ensure sustainable stocks and healthy ecosystem.
Significance: Fisheries sector play an important role in the socio-economic development of fisherfolk or coastal community in our world. The sector has been recognized as a powerful income and employment generator as it stimulates growth of a number of subsidiary industries, and is a source of cheap and nutritious food besides being a foreign exchange earner. Most importantly, it is the source of livelihood for a large section of economically backward population of our world. Hence it is very important to tackle the challenges faced by this industry for the development of our world and to address these problems only we have World Fisheries Day!
A recent United Nations study reported that more than two-thirds of the world's fisheries have been overfished or are fully harvested and more than one third are in a state of decline because of factors such as the loss of essential fish habitats, pollution, and global warming. The World Fisheries Day helps in highlighting the critical importance to human lives, of water and the lives it sustains, both in and out of water. Water forms a continuum, whether contained in rivers, lakes, and ocean.
Important Facts about Fishing in India
- India is the world's second-largest producer of fish through aquaculture.
- India is the fourth largest fish exporter globally, as it contributes 7.7% to the world's fish production.
- Currently, this sector supports the lives of more than 2.8 million people in the country. Still, this is a sector with untapped potential.
- India's Economic Survey 2019-20 estimated that, so far, only 58% of the country's fishing potential has been developed.
- Despite infrastructure challenges, central government policies over the last six years ensure that the fisheries sector continues to grow at an annual rate of over 10%.