Shaji Baby John
Aquaculture at the heart of Indian nutrition
In a world grappling with hunger, climate volatility, and depleting wild fisheries, aquaculture has emerged as India’s blue revolution. With wild catch plateauing, fish farming now supplies over 55 per cent of India’s total fish production, according to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. As the country aims to achieve nutritional security for over 1.4 billion people, aquaculture is not just an economic sector — it is a national imperative. But even as production scales, India must navigate two complex, interconnected challenges: food security and food safety.
Food security: Fish farms in India feeding the nation and the planet
Aquaculture is vital to ensuring food security — the reliable availability of affordable, nutritious food — particularly in India’s hinterlands and coastal belts. Fish is a low-cost protein source, rich in amino acids, omega-3 fats, and micronutrients like vitamin D and iodine. “Fish is the most affordable animal protein available to the common man,” says A Gopalakrishnan, Director of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). Species such as rohu, catla, tilapia, and pangasius are cultivated across states like Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. With low land requirements and efficient feed conversion, aquaculture supports over 28 million livelihoods in India, directly or indirectly.
The ability to harvest multiple times a year provides a steady income for farmers and mitigates the unpredictability of marine fishing. Beyond domestic consumption, India is now the world’s fourth-largest exporter of fish and seafood, supplying over 140 countries. The sector has become a key tool not just for feeding India, but for nourishing the planet — sustainably.
The invisible risk: Is our fish safe to eat?
While aquaculture boosts food availability, food safety — ensuring that fish is free from biological or chemical hazards — is still an evolving frontier. According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), “residues from antibiotics, formalin use, and poor hygiene in processing units remain key risks in the sector.”
Common safety threats include:
· Bacterial contamination from Vibrio or Aeromonas species
· Use of banned antibiotics and growth promoters
· Runoff containing pesticides and heavy metals
· Unregulated use of preservatives like formalin in fish transport
These issues are not limited to export markets — they affect public health at home. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) jointly report that unsafe food causes over 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses and 420,000 deaths globally each year, with the highest burden borne by children under five and vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries. In 2022 alone, several fish consignments from India were rejected by international markets due to microbial or residue concerns — costing the industry both revenue and reputation.
Security versus safety: A false binary
In low-income or food-insecure regions, access often trumps assurance. When food is scarce, people consume what’s available — even if it may not meet ideal hygiene or safety norms. However, food safety cannot be viewed as a luxury.
“Unsafe food ultimately deepens food insecurity. If it makes people sick, it pushes them into medical debt and weakens productivity,” says Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog.
Contaminated fish affects vulnerable groups — especially children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Moreover, outbreaks or export bans damage the long-term trust in aquaculture systems, especially for small and marginal farmers. Ultimately, unsafe food undermines food security. The two are not opposites — they are co-dependent.
A unified approach: safe and secure aquaculture
The real solution is to integrate both safety and security within the same aquaculture framework. This requires a shift to Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP), which emphasise:
· Water quality monitoring and regular pond maintenance
· Responsible antibiotic use and vaccination-led disease management
· Clean handling, icing, and transportation protocols
· Post-harvest infrastructure such as cold storage and mobile chillers
· Traceability through digital record-keeping or QR-code systems
“Sustainable aquaculture needs both yield and quality — and our policies must reflect that,” notes B Meenakumari, chairperson, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).
State governments and institutions like MPEDA, ICAR-CIFA, and NFDB have rolled out training and certification programmes. But greater awareness, tech adoption, and last-mile support are needed to ensure every small fish farmer has access to safe farming and handling protocols.
Feeding the world through water, responsibly
As India races to meet its nutrition and export goals, the real challenge is not choosing between food security and food safety — but achieving both, together. Fish that feeds must also heal, not harm. Availability must be matched by assurance.
When we view aquaculture as a holistic solution — not just to boost GDP, but to nourish households — we can unlock its true potential: to end malnutrition, improve public health, and power inclusive rural development.
At Kings Infra, our vision is to pioneer a smart, Bluetech-enabled aquaculture ecosystem — integrating AI, IoT, and sustainable protocols for real-time monitoring, sustainability, and full traceability from farm to fork. We believe that India’s fish farms, when powered by science and safety, can truly feed the nation — and the world. India can be the world leader in safe-to-eat fish — not just by producing more, but by producing better. Let us feed through the waters — safely, sustainably, and with integrity.
(The author is chairman and managing director, Kings Infra Ventures Limited; views are personal)
