Indian fisheries sector represents an economically important and fast-growing production sector and contributing significantly to the national economy in terms of food, nutrition, socio-economic development and providing livelihood to a large section of the society. Besides, meeting the domestic demand the sector has been substantially contributing to the foreign exchange earnings through export. The sector also generates business avenues and opportunities for number of subsidiary industries. Different resource specific Fisheries Research Institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have been instrumental for glorious history of the fisheries sector in the country.

The Fisheries Science Division under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) coordinates and monitor the research and academic programmes in fisheries and aquaculture of five resource specific fisheries research institutes viz., ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA); a Deemed University, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE); a bureau, ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) and a directorate, ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR) which are also supported by a wide network of their Regional/Research/ Field centres. The Fisheries Science Division has also initiated Network Projects on Mariculture, Fish Health Management, Breeding & Culture of Ornamental Fishes and Antimicrobial Resistance and is also coordinating a Consortium Research Platform (CRP) project on 'Genomics'.

The research programmes of the fisheries research institutes have been strengthened, re-structured, re-oriented and prioritized with thrust on enhancing fish production and productivity through optimum and sustainable utilization of resources with due emphasis on conservation of fish resources to realize the full production potential from the fisheries and aquaculture sectors and to address the critical research gaps. The research implementation, monitoring & evaluation mechanism has also been strengthened for bringing more accountability and transparency in the research programmes.