The Central government has envisaged a program named Blue Revolution’ to unlock the country’s latent potential and possibilities in the fisheries sector through an integrated approach, the Union Ministry of Agriculture said on Saturday. The Blue Revolution focuses on creating an enabling environment for an integrated and holistic development and management of fisheries for the socio economic development of the fishers and fish farmers. Thrust areas have been identified for enhancing fisheries production from 10.79 mmt (2014-15) to 15 mmt in 2020-21, according to the Ministry. Emphasis will be on infrastructure as well as on management and conservation of resources through technology transfer to increase in the income of the fishers and fish farmers. Integration of various production-oriented activities such as production of quality fish seeds, cost effective feed and adoption of technology etc. are expected to enhance productivity. Fish fingerling production is the single most important critical input visualised to achieve fish production targets under the Blue Revolution. The Department has identified 20 states based on their potential and other relevant factors to strengthen the Fish Seed infrastructure in the country. This program with a total expenditure of about Rs. 52,000 lakh will facilitate the establishment of hatcheries and fingerling rearing pond to ensure the fish production of 426 crores fish fingerling, 25.50 crores post larvae of shrimp and crab in the country. This is expected to result in production of 20 lakh tonnes of fish annually and benefit about four million families.