Ratnagiri fish output rises but fishermen seek drought relief
Despite higher catch in 2024-25, Ratnagiri fishermen's bodies have asked the state to declare a fisheries drought and provide financial aid
The central government has launched a major campaign under the Marine Fisheries Census 2025 to get an accurate picture of the fishing business across the country. It is digitally collecting data on total fish production over the past few years, the social and economic condition of fishing families, their income, insurance, loans, benefits from government schemes, and changes in the business due to technology.
The census covers about 12 lakh fishing families in roughly 5,000 villages across 13 coastal states and union territories. Among these, the data from Ratnagiri district, considered a major fisheries hub of the Konkan region, is seen as particularly significant, since the local economy and the livelihood of thousands of families depend directly on fishing.
According to available data, Ratnagiri district's marine fish production stood at 71,303 metric tonnes in 2024-25. This figure was 67,907 metric tonnes in 2023-24, meaning production rose by 3,396 metric tonnes this year. However, despite the rise in production, the economic difficulties of fishermen have not eased. In earlier years, the district had seen a sharp decline in both the number of fishing boats and production.
The district had 2,936 fishing boats in 2021-22, which fell to 2,520 in 2022-23. During the same period, fish production also dropped from 1,12,028 metric tonnes to 62,797 metric tonnes. Several reasons are being cited for the difficulties faced by fishermen: constant adverse changes in weather, rising heat in the sea, depletion of fish stocks, loss of fishing days due to frequent storms, and the continuously rising cost of diesel.
Given the sharp fall in income during the current fishing season, fishermen's organisations in Ratnagiri have formally demanded that the state government declare a fisheries drought in the area and provide special financial assistance to fishermen. The organisations say that the condition of fishing families is worsening due to constantly rising costs and falling income, and that immediate relief from the government is necessary.
