Gujarat’s fisheries sector is undergoing a noticeable shift, with inland fish production emerging as one of the fastest-growing parts of the state’s fisheries economy. While marine fish production recorded only modest growth in 2025–26, inland production rose sharply, supported by freshwater resources, aquaculture, shrimp farming and increasing government support.
The state produced around 11.5 lakh metric tonnes of fish in 2025–26, including approximately 7.7 lakh MT of marine fish and 3.7 lakh MT of inland fish. Compared with the previous year, marine production increased by about 1.1%, while inland production grew by nearly 37%.
The change is also visible in the composition of Gujarat’s fish basket. The share of inland fisheries rose from 21.2% in 2021–22 to 32.6% in 2025–26, showing how quickly aquaculture and inland fishing are expanding.
Inland fisheries emerge as a major growth engine
Gujarat has traditionally been known for its long coastline and strong marine fishing industry. But freshwater fish farming and aquaculture are now adding a new dimension to the sector.
Rising production from inland water bodies, along with shrimp and aquaculture farms, has helped push overall fish production higher. Between the previous year and 2025–26, marine production increased by around 8,167 tonnes, while inland production rose by nearly 1 lakh MT.
The state has considerable inland fisheries potential, including around 3.5 lakh hectares of reservoirs, 0.22 lakh hectares of village ponds and about 3,865 km of rivers and canals.
These resources provide opportunities for fish farming across different parts of Gujarat, particularly in areas where traditional agriculture may face limitations.
Government support is expanding aquaculture
The state government is promoting several measures to increase fish production and make aquaculture more productive.
These include the establishment of fish-seed hatcheries and rearing facilities, financial assistance for modern systems such as biofloc and RAS (recirculatory aquaculture systems), and support for cage culture. Other initiatives include:
Development of cold-chain facilities
Support for ornamental fish hatcheries
Introduction and development of new fish varieties
Expansion of brackish-water aquaculture
Fish-health diagnostic laboratories
Brood-stock facilities
Research and technology collaborations
Pilot projects for cage farming in the sea
The state is also encouraging the use of saline land and brackish-water areas for aquaculture.
89,341 hectares identified for brackish-water aquaculture
One of the biggest opportunities lies in brackish-water farming.
Of the state’s estimated 3.8 lakh hectares of saline land, around 89,000 hectares have been identified as suitable for brackish-water aquaculture. District-wise, the identified suitable area includes:
Valsad: 5,138.7 hectares
Navsari: 12,037.2 hectares
Surat: 19,200 hectares
Bharuch: 33,208 hectares
Bhavnagar: 1,125 hectares
Amreli: 2,001 hectares
Junagadh: 1,493 hectares
Rajkot: 3,200 hectares
Jamnagar: 4,104 hectares
Kutch: 7,834 hectares
Together, these areas account for around 89,341 hectares identified as suitable for brackish-water aquaculture.
Shrimp farming is gaining momentum
Shrimp has become an important part of Gujarat’s expanding aquaculture economy. Coastal districts are seeing greater interest in shrimp cultivation, while larger aquaculture companies are increasingly entering the sector.
Farmers are also exploring artificial ponds, reservoirs, small water bodies and brackish-water areas for production.
For some farmers, aquaculture offers an attractive alternative source of income. One shrimp farmer quoted in the information said inland fish farming can provide better returns than marine fishing because of lower operating costs and easier access to the domestic market.
The sector is also creating opportunities beyond fishing, including fish processing, trading, transportation and seafood exports.
Processing industry adds another layer of growth
The expansion of fish production is also supporting Gujarat’s seafood-processing industry.
The state has 137 marine fish-processing units, with a combined daily processing capacity of around 7,646.8 MT. However, only about a dozen processing units are currently focused mainly on inland aquaculture products.
Shrimp and prawn processing is particularly important because processed seafood can command higher values in export markets.
Industry representatives believe Gujarat has significant potential to expand seafood exports further as aquaculture production increases.
More people are entering inland fisheries
The growth of aquaculture is not limited to traditional fishing communities.
People from other backgrounds are also entering the business because inland fish farming can involve relatively lower operating costs and, in some cases, a more controlled production environment.
A Gujarat aquaculture farmer cited in the information said inland fish farming can generate better returns than marine fishing. Another industry voice pointed to the growing interest in artificial ponds, reservoirs, small waterways and brackish-water bodies.
At the same time, experts caution that aquaculture still carries risks, including disease outbreaks and production losses, particularly in intensive farming systems.
Marine fishing faces a slower phase
The rapid growth of inland fisheries stands in contrast to the relatively slow growth of Gujarat’s marine fisheries.
Marine production increased by only about 1.1% in 2025–26, suggesting that the traditional fishing sector may be approaching its practical limits in some areas.
Experts have also pointed to changing fish availability and the impact of environmental conditions. Fishermen are increasingly having to travel farther into the sea and use larger boats and equipment to find fish.
This creates additional costs related to fuel, boats, crew and equipment.
The growth of inland fisheries, therefore, is providing Gujarat with another way to increase fish production without depending entirely on marine catches.
Traditional fishing communities still remain important
Despite the rise of aquaculture, marine fishing continues to support thousands of families across Gujarat’s coastal belt.
Industry representatives have raised concerns about increasing juvenile fishing, saying that young fish are sometimes caught before reaching maturity. This could affect future fish stocks if not properly managed.
Experts believe a balance is needed between increasing production and protecting the natural resources on which fishing communities depend.
A sector with growing economic potential
Gujarat’s fisheries sector is increasingly becoming a combination of traditional marine fishing, inland fisheries, aquaculture, shrimp farming, processing and exports.
The sharp rise in inland production shows that reservoirs, ponds, rivers, canals and saline lands could play a much larger role in the state’s future fisheries economy.
With government support, modern technology and private investment entering the sector, aquaculture could create new livelihood opportunities for farmers and fishing communities alike.
At the same time, experts stress that the next phase of growth will need to focus not only on production, but also on water management, fish health, responsible farming and sustainable use of marine and inland resources.
For Gujarat, the numbers point to a clear trend: the state’s fisheries story is no longer being written only at sea. Increasingly, its next big growth opportunity is coming from the ponds, reservoirs and farms inland.
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