Asia’s shift from wild-caught to farmed fish is accelerating sharply as marine capture fisheries stagnate across the region, according to new preliminary findings released at a high-level regional workshop in Chennai.
The study, conducted by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), shows India among the fastest-growing aquaculture producers in Asia. Inland aquaculture output rose 167% in less than a decade – jumping from 1.5 million tonnes in 2014 to nearly 4 million tonnes in 2023.
Presented to delegations from 12 Asian countries at a three-day workshop co-organised by the FAO and BOBP-IGO, the findings underline how farmed fish is becoming central to Asia’s food systems, nutrition strategies and livelihoods. The region now accounts for more than 70% of global fish production, increasingly driven by aquaculture.
BOBP Director Dr P Krishnan said India is emerging as “a leading driver of Asia’s shift from wild-caught to farmed fish,” noting that aquaculture’s share in fisheries employment has climbed from 17% in 1995 to around 40% by 2020.
The study also reports widening declines in marine capture across several Asian countries. China’s marine landings have fallen by 15-20% since 2015, while Sri Lanka and Malaysia have recorded multi-year downturns – pressures that are pushing governments to scale up farmed-fish production.
Despite being a major seafood exporter — led by a booming frozen shrimp sector — India consumes 82% of its total fish production domestically, making aquatic foods a cornerstone of national nutrition.
But rising fish loss and waste pose a growing threat. The report highlights that:
- Marine fish losses in India have surged from 2.78% to over 10%
- Dry fish losses are as high as 37%
- Key drivers include lack of cold-chain infrastructure, unhygienic landing sites and poor handling practices
The study warns that such losses undermine food availability, drain nutrients from low-income households and erode earnings for small-scale fishers.
It also finds that women make up to 95% of India’s fish marketing, curing and peeling workforce, yet much of this labour remains informal and undervalued. It therefore urges gender-responsive support, especially in post-harvest and processing activities.
Calls for investment and modernisation
To tackle structural weaknesses, the study recommends:
- Decentralised cold-chain infrastructure
- Insulated boxes and chilled seawater systems
- Upgraded landing centres
- Modern drying and processing technologies
At the workshop’s inauguration, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) Chairman DV Swamy highlighted the growing disconnect between India’s highly regulated export sector and its vulnerable domestic supply chain: “While India’s US$7.5 billion seafood export industry is driving unprecedented quality control, the domestic supply chain faces numerous vulnerabilities, posing significant food safety risks to local consumers.”
FAO officials including Dr Omar Penarubia, Angela Lentisco and Meeta Punjabi Mehta stressed that resilient aquatic food value chains are essential not only for food security but for climate adaptation and livelihoods across Asia.
