Fisheries – Definition, Types & Importance

Fisheries refer to the enterprise of raising or harvesting fish and other aquatic life and also the site where such an enterprise is set up. Commercial fisheries include both wild fisheries and fish farms, of which around 90% are in oceans and 10% in freshwater bodies. About 500 million people worldwide depend on fisheries for their livelihood. The total fish production in India in 2017-2018 was 12.59 million metric tonnes. India is the second-largest producer of fish in the world and has the second position in inland fish production worldwide. The fisheries sector accounts for 1% of the total GDP of the country. This article elaborates on the types, importance, advantages and disadvantages of fisheries. Read on to learn more!

What are Fisheries?

Fisheries can be defined as raising and harvesting wild marine and freshwater fishes for food or industrial purposes. As per the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), “…a fishery is an activity leading to the harvest of fish. It may involve the capture of wild fish or raising of fish through aquaculture.” It is classified on the basis of the people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats, purpose etc. Some organizations, that focus on recreational fishing include not only the fishers, but the fish and habitats upon which the fish depend in their definitions.

Fig: Fisheries

Types of Fisheries

Fisheries mainly include two types, and they are:

1. Marine Fisheries:

Sources of marine fisheries include \({\rm{7500}}\,{\rm{km}}\) of coastline and deep seas beyond it. Popular marine fish varieties include Mackerel, Tuna, Saradins, and Bombay duck. Marine fish are caught using many kinds of fishing nets through fishing boats. Some marine fishes of high economical value are also found in seawater.

Fig: Marine Fisheries

2. Inland/Freshwater Fisheries:

Fisheries that are present in freshwater resources include canals, ponds, reservoirs, etc. More intensive fish farming can be done in composite fish culture in this type of fishery. In such a system, a combination of five or six fish species is used in a single fishpond. Catlas, Rohus, Mrigals, etc., are a few examples of Inland Fisheries.

Fig: Inland Fisheries

What is Pisciculture?

The breeding, rearing, and transplantation of fish by artificial means is called Pisciculture.

Types of Pisciculture

There are two types of Pisciculture, and they are:

1. Mariculture: It involves the culturing and harvesting of finfishes and shellfishes only in seawater. Fish seeds are introduced, and fish are reared. Or in other words, this an activity that involves food production for human consumption. This activity involves both plants and animals to be cultured in a confined environment in the aquatic medium, which may be completely marine or marine mixed to various degrees with freshwater in the brackish water areas.
2. Aquaculture: It involves the culturing and harvesting of fish, prawns, crabs, etc., only in freshwater bodies like ponds, rivers, etc. Fish and other organisms are seeded and reared.

Economic Importance of Fish

1. Fish as Food: The fish flesh is an excellent source of protein, has very little fat, carries a number of minerals and vitamins \({\rm{A}}\) and \({\rm{D,}}\) and is rich in iodine.
2. Fish for Controlling Diseases: Diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and other dreadful diseases that are spread through mosquitoes can be controlled. Larvivorous fish eat mosquitoes.
3. Scientific Value: Some fish, like the lungfish, are of zoological importance because of their discontinuous distribution and anatomical features.
4. Aesthetic Value: A large number of fish are cultured in aquariums for their beauty and graceful movements. The important aquarium fish are Macropodus.
5. Fishery By-products:
a. Fish oil: It is extracted from the liver of the sharks, sawfishes, etc.
b. Isinglass: It is high-grade collagen produced from the air bladder or swim bladder of certain fishes like catfishes & carps. The isinglass prepared in Russia is of the best quality.
c. Fish oil: Dry oil is obtained from Salmon & Herring. Semi-dry oil from carps. Liver oil contains vitamin \({\rm{A,}}\,{\rm{D,}}\,{\rm{E}}{\rm{.}}\)
d. Fish meal: It is prepared from wastes of fish oil. The Waste of the cod industry is called “Whitefish meal”.
e. Fish meal contains Calcium \(5.36\% ,\) phospholipids \(3.42\% ,\) and iodine. For younger animals, it has proved to be a good nutritious diet.
f. Fish Protein: Used in the preparation of ice cream, pharmaceuticals, paints, varnishes, textile, paper, and cosmetics.
g. Fish Flour: It is a highly nutritious food prepared by solvent extraction process easily digested by infants of \(3 – 4\) months.
h. Fish Skin: The skin of some fishes like sharks and rays are used for covering card cases, jewel boxes, scab boards, etc. The skin of cod salmon and other fishes is also tanned and converted into leather.

Fisheries Management

1. Fishery management is directed toward maximizing the benefits of the production unit (fish stock) that is being managed.
2. Management institutions can be either formal to conserve fishery resources within their sphere of influence.
3. The fishery management should take care of oil spills in oceans, seas, and throwing of \({\rm{E}}\)-wastes in water because it disturbs aquatic life.
4. In \(1995\) the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing was agreed by the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
5. Greater involvement of stakeholders in the fishery management process is becoming common.

Advantages of Fish Farming

1. Stable supply with fish.
2. Relief for our wild aquatic animals.
3. Waste reduction related to commercial fishing.
4. Protection of habitats.
5. Mitigation of the endangered species problem.
6. May be necessary to feed our growing world population.
7. Local income source for people who stay near the seas.
8. Employment opportunities are at a high rate since the production of fish is high.
9. Fish farming may mitigate the starvation issue.
10. Supply with large amounts of omega-\(3\) fatty acids.
11. Lower prices for the purchase of fish near coastal areas.

Disadvantages of Fish Farming

1. Use of antibiotics.
2. Use of growth hormones.
3. Genetic manipulation.
4. Water pollution.
5. Fish feed is partially made out of wild fish.
6. Problems if farm fishes escape and breed with wild fish.
7. Can be regarded to be unnatural.
8. Conditions in fish farms are usually quite poor.
9. The general public may not accept fish from aquaculture.
10. Fish farming is quite inefficient.
11. Ecosystems are altered.
12. Pests in fish farms can spread to wild aquatic animals.
13. Adverse health effects for humans.
14. Regulations regarding fish farming vary across countries.
15. The commercial fishing industry may suffer.

Summary

Today’s era of developments in Marine Aquaculture has proved to be a boon for Indian aquaculturists because it increases productivity. But still, there is a need to expand aquaculture in India because it is restricted to only a few states, so there is excellent scope for the other fisheries-based industries to enter this sector. India has bright scope in the Marine Aquaculture sector. The scope lies in the trade of various seeds throughout the globe, developing efforts in policies pertaining to seeds in India and increasing the Marketing and distribution system high crop production growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Fisheries

The most frequently asked questions about fisheries are answered here:

We hope this detailed article on Fisheries helps you in your preparation. If you get stuck do let us know in the comments section below and we will get back to you at the earliest.