STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Despite the increase in fish production in Assam, the state has to import around 25,000 MT of fish from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal annually. During the Magh Bihu alone, the state imports around 2,000 MT of fish.
According to sources in the Fishery Department, fish production in Assam was 2.94 lakh MT in 2015-16, 3.27 lakh MT in 2017-18, 3.31 lakh MT in 2018-19, 3.73 lakh MT in 2019-20, 3.93 lakh MT in 2020-21, 4.17 lakh MT in 2021-22, and 4.43 lakh MT in 2022-23.
According to the Nand Book on Fisheries Statistics published by the Union Ministry of Fishery, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, the breakup of the 3.93 lakh MT fish production in the state in 2020–21 is: 1.01 lakh MT of major carps like Catla, Rohu, Mrigal, etc.; 0.50 lakh MT of minor carps; 1.01 lakh MT of exotic carps; 0.3 lakh MT of murrels (Ophiocephalus spp.); 0.34 lakh MT of catfish; and 0.77 lakh MT of other freshwater fishes.
Meanwhile, 1,25,321 full-time fishermen and 5,40,637 part-time fishermen are engaged in inland fishery activities in the state, besides 29,736 occasional fishermen.
Fish productions in the state are mainly 10607.24 km of rivers and canals and 85,068 hectares of tanks and ponds. Resources of fish in the state other than rivers and canals comprise 404516.98 hectares.
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