Small-scale fisheries (SSF) contribute around 50% of global fish catches in developing countries, employing 90% of the world’s capture fishers. In India, SSF constitutes 70% of the fishing workforce but harvests only 20% of the potential yield, highlighting operational gaps, inefficiencies, and underutilization. Global SSF studies, mainly marine-focused, lack documentation on inland fisheries, emphasizing the need for comprehensive data on biological, economic, social, and cultural aspects. SSF marketing in India faces inefficiencies, including insufficient infrastructure, cold chain gaps, and logistical shortcomings, highlighting the need for long-term investments. ICAR-CIFRI’s interventions in SSF, spanning rivers, estuaries, reservoirs, wetlands, and lagoons, reveal poor socio-economic conditions and emphasize the need for diversification of livelihoods. Future perspectives for Indian SSF demand a holistic approach, addressing systemic challenges, involving stakeholders, empowering women, and enhancing assessment methodologies for a sustainable and inclusive future.