Sustainable Aquaculture
As the second largest aquaculture producer in the world, aquaculture in India is considered as a thriving sector for meeting the increasing fish demand in the coming years. Almost five-fold growth in the last four decades, is proof of the sector’s vibrancy. The increasing population and the growing demand for fish has led to intensification characterised by higher stocking densities and increased use of external inputs, such as feed, chemicals. While intensification and commercialization pose threat to the environment, the adoption of innovative and improved fish farming approaches is also happening.
Sustainable aquaculture is increasingly getting attention and is regarded as a means of providing nutrition and livelihoods for small scale farmers in India. Sustainable aquaculture includes practices that ensure ecological balance, reinforce environmental conservation and bring about community-driven sustainable agricultural transformation. It is acknowledged for its significant contributions to household food security and improving dietary quality.
Aquaculture has further served as the central focus point for sustainable circular economies in which near-subsistence fish farms practiced fish polyculture in ponds integrated with animal and plant cropping systems that recycled farm resources through multiple crops. Such integration of aquatic and terrestrial farming is commonly seen in farms in Asia. Integrated fish farming with livestock and horticulture utilizes the by-products/wastes as principal inputs, and also makes the farming practice highly remunerative and farmers’ friendly. The Bodi based integrated farming system implemented in Etapalli and Bhambragad tribal areas in Maharashtra is one such example. Through its various integrated components, the model has enhanced the livelihoods of small scale farmers. It has proved to enhance income, family nutrition, farm resilience and sustainability.(Yogesh Sawant, p.12).
Technological advancements have played a key role in aquaculture’s progress. Over the past 50 years, systems and technology have evolved from simple family ponds to sophisticated systems. Recognizing the limitations of traditional pond-based farming, Jaljeevika introduced cage fisheries in reservoirs, allowing fish farming in existing water bodies to optimize resource utilization. Across five districts, Jaljeevika trained more than 1,500 tribal fishers and cooperative members in constructing cost-effective bamboo-based cages, stocking fish seed, and managing fish growth cycles. By providing an alternative to expensive industrial cage systems, this initiative empowered communities to take control of their own production and improve economic viability. Also, climate-resilient aquaculture techniques were promoted to address water scarcity and erratic rainfall patterns. Adaptive practices such as integrated rice-fish farming, agroecological approaches, and multi-trophic aquaculture were introduced to enhance resilience while maximizing productivity. (Neelkantha Mishra, p.33).
Capacity-building initiatives work towards creating lasting change, improving food and nutrition security and sustainable livelihoods. For example, capacity building remains central to SAFAL’s approach. A key component of its initiative is the training and mobilisation of over 500 Community Resource Persons (CRPs), supported by 140 CRP-trainers, resulting in improvement in livelihoods of 7000 small scale farmers. (Bettina Renner and Pratap Sinha). Similarly, recognizing the need for structured training and continuous knowledge dissemination, Jaljeevika established AquaSchools—dedicated learning centers offering hands-on training in modern aquaculture practices. With seven AquaSchools operating in Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Jharkhand, over 12,000 farmers have benefited from these capacity-building programs.(Neelkantha Mishra, p.33).
In recent years, the aquaculture industry has witnessed a significant paradigm shift driven by the integration of digital technologies. This transformation is not merely about adopting new tools. It holds immense importance for the sustainable development and growth of aquaculture. For instance, Jaljeevika launched e-Matsya Mitra, a multilingual chatbot-based advisory service that provides real-time guidance on fish farming best practices, disease management, and access to government schemes. This digital intervention has significantly improved information accessibility, especially in remote areas where extension services are limited. (Neelkantha Mishra, p.33).
Seasonally inundated floodplains remain a seriously under-utilised and potentially highly profitable resource. These unutilized floodplains can be transformed into resourceful aquaculture that generates income for the community and integrates fisheries with agriculture to optimize use of the resources in an ecologically sound manner. This has been done in ‘Daudkandi’ floodplains in Bangladesh with great success (Sakiul Millat Morshed, p.21). The ‘Daudkandi’ floodplain experience clearly shows how a community successfully co-managed a floodplain CPR by partnering with a local NGO, taking the community enterprise approach.
Aquaculture farms have been integral parts of local communities from the times of the earliest fish farms millennia ago. Many coastal areas have long histories of aquaculture-related traditions and cultural heritages. Strong aquaculture-based traditions provide incentives for people to remain in their communities rather than out-migrate to urban areas. For instance, in Assam, community fishing in the Rabha community, popularly known as Bahow takes place at the Barjong beel when the water typically reaches knee height in the month of Chot (March), the last month of the Assamese almanac (Sourabh Kumar Dubey et.al., p.27). From early in the morning until late in the day, nearly 10,000 people from places like Dudhnoi, Tirikila and surrounding districts, as well as the neighboring state of Meghalaya, participate in fishing activities. One of the most significant benefits of community fishing is that it acts as a catalyst to promote social cohesion and unity among members. The use of traditional fishing methods is a testament to the extensive local ecological knowledge that has been passed down over time. Despite the development and mechanization of the fishing industry, these methods have managed to endure.
In recent years, the concept of Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) has emerged as a popular model for promoting sustainable fish farming practices and improving the socio-economic conditions of small-scale fish farmers. FFPOs are collective organizations of fish farmers providing small-scale fish farmers with a platform to access technical, financial, and marketing support, which they would otherwise find difficult to access individually. However, studies indicate that limited awareness and understanding of FFPOs among fish farmers, insufficient financial and technical resources to establish and sustain FFPOs, capacity gaps in governance, management, and leadership skills within FFPOs, lack of supportive policies, regulations, and institutional frameworks for FFPOs were hampering the formation and efficient functioning of FPOs in aquaculture sector.
