During the last decade (1970-80) fisheries of India had grown in many spheres. The contribution of fisheries to GDP had increased by registering a growth of 0.38% during the period from 1971 to 1982-83. Number of fishery workers among the total working force had increased. During the year 1977-78 the fisheries had provided employment of 0.7% of all types in the total economically active population and 1.1% of the total workers of primary industry in the whole country. Similarly the number of fishery management units grew from 4,70,591 in 1970-1972 to 6,10,915 in 1981 or an increase of 29.8%. However, there is not much increase with regard to those who own boats during the same period. The number of fishery cooperatives had also increased by 32.4% during 1972 to 1979. The marine fish catches had gone up by 25% from 1973 to 1983. Though there is not significant growth of fish from the EEZ, there is a moderate growth of number of deep sea fishing vessels. Similarly inland fishing and aquaculture have grown up steadily during the last decade though the actual figures are not available for inland fishing vessels. Even in the infrastructural facilities, India had shown a good growth particularly in the construction of medium and minor fishing ports.

Supply of fish products for domestic consumption had increased registering a modest growth. However, the growth of exports of fishery products is enormous during the last decade.

Capital surplus after meeting the expenditure by the boats which are working in the mechanised sector had gone up slightly. Surplus in aquaculture is however showing greater particularly with paddy cum prawn culture which is extensively undertaken in Kerala. Growth in research facilities and also personnel employed with regard to research in fisheries had gone up in relation to the ratio of research workers to the fishermen population.

The productivity per mechanised boat had increased by 8.19% during 1977-80. The productivity per hectare of an inland fish farm had also gone up. The fisheries of India had shown all round development and growth in all components of fishery industry except from EEZ area.