Economics of Fish Farming

Fishes are of great importance to humans in the form of food. The fin fish and shell fish together provide mores than 14% of the world's supply of animal protein to humans. Under group fin fish are included all fishes of class chondrichthyes and osteichthyes of subphylum vertebrata.

Invertebrates like prawns, crabs and lobsters and edible oysters come under the group "shell fish." The various fish products such as fish meal, fish oil has great value in the market.

India has an extensive coastline of about 5550km and a continental shelf of over one lakh square km in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and these together with fresh water systems like ponds. Lakes, reservoirs, streams and rivers provide vast area for fish catching.

The annual marine fish production in India is now more than 3 million tons. The combined annual production from marine and inland fisheries now exceeds 5 million tons. The annual fish production potential of India is 10 million tons.

Pisciculture in inland waters and aquaculture of shrimps and prawns, generate gainful employment and career options to many people in rural and semi rural areas. Thus Pisciculture helps in human resources development, which in turn generates additional increased income to fishermen and those who are engaged in processing and marketing of fish.

Culture of both fin fish and shell fish is an excellent career, because of export this helps in earning foreign exchange.