Sardine Surge Lifts India’s Marine Catch

April 30, 2026

Kochi: India’s marine fisheries sector posted a steady recovery in 2025, with total landings rising three per cent year-on-year to 35.7 lakh tonnes, according to the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

The data signals a stabilising resource base alongside improving market realisations, offering cautious optimism for the blue economy, it said.

Kerala retained third position, recording a modest two per cent growth to 6.24 lakh tonnes, about 17 per cent of national production.

Catch composition highlights a structural trend as pelagic species dominated with a 54 percent share, underlining the sector’s dependence on near-surface resources.

Notably, cephalopods and threadfin breams posted strong double-digit growth, touching decadal highs, an indicator of favourable stock conditions and better management practices.

Kerala’s performance was anchored by a sharp rebound in oil sardine, which rose 13 per cent to 1.68 lakh tonnes, its highest level in a decade.

Key landing hubs such as Neendakara and Munambam continued to drive volumes, even as adverse weather and a cargo shipwreck curtailed fishing days during peak months.

From a business standpoint, the sector’s value story is even more compelling. Marine fish landings generated Rs 69,254 crore at the national level (up 10.45 percent), with retail value touching Rs 97,702 crore.