Sustainable Development in Fragile Aquatic Ecosystems: A Case Study of Small-Scale Fisheries in the Himalayan Region of Kashmir

Small-scale fisheries, while often marginalized in policy debates, are seen as a critical component of economic development, contributing to livelihoods, food security, and poverty alleviation. This paper critically examines the impact of the recent fisheries policy in Kashmir, which has promoted aquaculture as a solution to boost fish production. Drawing upon government statistics and interviews, the paper argues that the promotion of aquaculture has subsided native fisheries protection and that small-scale fishers are facing marginalization due to a combination of factors, including enclosures, privatization, and man-made disasters. The findings suggest that small-scale fisheries are facing marginalization due to adverse policies and are getting more vulnerable due to rising climate change and habitat destruction. In particular, the enclosure and the barriers to accessing fishing grounds are adversely impacting the livelihood of fishing communities. Finally, I argue for sustainable fisheries policies that take into consideration resource access and the interests of fishermen.