Union Minister Urges Gujarat To Harness Inland Fisheries For Blue Economy Growth
Gujarat urged to expand inland fisheries for Blue Economy.
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Tuesday urged Gujarat to adopt a time-bound strategy to fully harness its inland fisheries potential, saying the state has the resources and ecosystem to emerge as a national leader in the sector and contribute significantly to India’s Blue Economy.
Speaking at the valedictory session of the fourth Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Vadodara, the minister said Gujarat, despite having one of the longest coastlines in the country, also possesses vast untapped inland water resources that remain underutilised. He emphasized that village ponds and inland water bodies across multiple districts could be developed more effectively to boost fisheries-based livelihoods and economic activity.
Singh noted that Gujarat contributes a substantial share of India’s saline water resources, which provide strong potential for shrimp farming and allied aquaculture industries. However, he pointed out that inland fisheries currently account for only around 2% of India’s fisheries exports from the state, indicating significant scope for expansion and value addition in the sector.
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The minister called for coordinated efforts between the state government, scientific institutions, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders to develop a structured action plan. He said Gujarat could be positioned as a global hub for inland fisheries if supported by modern infrastructure, investment, and technology-driven interventions.
He also stressed the importance of adopting advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve productivity and efficiency in fisheries management. Alongside this, he highlighted the need to strengthen hatchery systems, cold chain infrastructure, and transportation networks to reduce post-harvest losses and improve export competitiveness.
Singh further said that the development of the fisheries sector would align with India’s broader “Viksit Bharat” vision, contributing to both rural economic growth and national development goals. He underlined that a focused and time-bound approach would be essential to unlock the full potential of Gujarat’s inland fisheries ecosystem.
The conference concluded with investment commitments worth over ₹3.34 lakh crore through 3,759 memoranda of understanding, which are expected to generate nearly 1.97 lakh employment opportunities. The closing session was also addressed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, while senior officials presented an overview of the event’s outcomes and participating artisans and entrepreneurs were honoured.
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