Traditionally, India was recognized as a fish-eating country, but it was only after Independence that fishery has been recognized as an important allied sector of Indian agriculture. Over ten-fold increase in fish production-from 0.75 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 8.0 million tonnes in 2009-10 amply justifies vibrancy of this sector that has been exhibited in the country during the last six decades.

Fisherfolk in the Hooghly are enjoying boom time, with the Farakka Barrage having barred highly valued Hilsa from moving upstream, where procurement has fallen drastically. The average annual catch