Mongabay · Climate & nature

India's Fishmeal Industry: Pollution, Protests, and Policy

A proposed fishmeal plant in Cuncolim, India, highlights widespread opposition to an industry linked to pollution, unsafe conditions, and unsustainable fishing. Despite documented issues, India is backing industry growth.

An investigation found over 30 Indian fishmeal plants with environmental violations or legal issues between 2018-2024, alongside 18 civil unrest incidents. The industry provides jobs but diverts fish, poses health risks, and pressures fish stocks.

Despite concerns, India lifted a moratorium on new plants, approving one in Cuncolim for Feb 2026. Local officials and advocates strongly object, citing unbearable stench and health impacts.

From 2018-2024, plants faced accusations of waste dumping, illegal timber use, and safety failures. Protests, some violent, have occurred in multiple cities.

The $200 million industry employs tens of thousands but poses dangers like asphyxiation and fires. Fatalities have occurred, with companies citing safety protocol failures.

Offshore, many ships fish illegally or unsustainably, processing vital pelagic fish. This practice extracts sustenance from poorer nations for seafood consumed elsewhere.

Key species like Indian oil sardine are overfished. The industry impacts local food security, as farmed shrimp fed on fishmeal are often exported.

Ongoing pollution fuels protests, with villagers reporting spoiled groundwater. Activists see new plant approvals as a failure of environmental governance.

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