India is second in inland aquaculre production after China, the mainstay being the carp production. But in resource utilization, the country lags behind. In the brackishwater side, the % of potential land utilization still remains less than 15. Cage aquaculture sector still reamains in infancy owing to lack of rules and regulations and inflow of funds. In the freshwater side, some of the endemic species (eg. belonging to Western Ghats) are yet to be studied and used for commercial aquaculture. The number of species commercially cultured in India remains less than 20 and this can be easily augmented to 100 for augmenting the aquaculture production of the country. This will also lead to diversification-possibilites. Again, the aquaculture production of Vietnam is almost equl to India's production. But the export value of the the former is 6.5 billion US$ while that of India is 3.5 billion US$. If the country can make a few strategic shifts in the "aquacultural attitude" she can move forward must faster. Then, the aquaculture sector will be able to contribute to the protein security and food basket of the country with much more impact and significance.
(please double check the values as I am forwarding this in a hurry).
Dr. K. Dinesh
Assistant Professor & Head, Fisheries Station, Puduveypu, Cochin- 682508
Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS)
Dinesh Kaippilly