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India’s Fisheries Sector Faces $2.2 Billion Annual Loss Due to Water Pollution: Study
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Saturday, 15 March, 2025, 15 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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India's fishery sector suffers a staggering annual loss of $2.2 billion due to water pollution caused by untreated wastewater contaminating rivers and oceans, according to a study released at the World Ocean Summit in Japan.
The report, published by ocean health initiative Back to Blue and the Ocean Sewage Alliance, examines the economic impact of wastewater mismanagement in India, Brazil, Kenya, the Philippines, and the UK. Among these countries, India bears the highest economic losses, with its fisheries sector losing 5.4% of its value each year.
Beyond fisheries, India also incurs $246 million in annual healthcare costs due to diarrheal diseases linked to contaminated drinking water. The study highlights that India’s wastewater treatment rate stands at just 21%, significantly affecting public health and food security.
As one of the world’s leading seafood exporters, India’s declining fish production threatens both domestic supply and global markets. Contaminated water sources also impact agriculture, with nearly 10% of farmland in developing countries irrigated using untreated wastewater containing toxic heavy metals like zinc, chromium, and iron. Although wastewater nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus initially enhance crop yields, prolonged exposure leads to soil degradation and reduced productivity.
Amelia Wenger, Water Pollution Programme Lead at the Wildlife Conservation Society, stressed the urgent need for wastewater treatment reforms. "The cost of inaction is evident—investing in proper sewage infrastructure is the only sustainable solution," she stated.
Experts also emphasized alternative solutions such as decentralized wastewater treatment systems and repurposing wastewater for organic fertilizers, biogas, or renewable energy. Nitin Bassi, senior program lead at the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), underscored the importance of expanding treatment capacity. "If we capture, treat, and reuse more wastewater, we can alleviate water scarcity while improving both water quality and availability," he said.
With rising environmental and economic stakes, the study calls for immediate investment in wastewater management to safeguard India’s fisheries, agriculture, and public health.
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