Fishery cooperatives have played a crucial role in organizing small-scale fishermen and improving the efficiency, productivity, and welfare of the fishing community. The genesis of fishery cooperatives can be traced back to the early 20th century, when the need for collective action among fishermen became apparent. Traditional fishing practices often left individual fishermen vulnerable to exploitation by middlemen, market fluctuations, and unpredictable environmental conditions. To address these issues, governments and social reformers promoted cooperative movements, adapting the general principles of cooperation—voluntary membership, democratic control, and mutual assistance—to the unique requirements of the fishing sector. The historical development of fishery cooperatives is closely linked with the broader cooperative movement. In India, for example, the Co-operative Societies Act of 1912 provided a legal framework that allowed fishermen to form cooperative societies for production, credit, marketing, and processing of fish. Initially, these cooperatives focused on providing financial support and ensuring fair pricing, as many small fishermen lacked access to institutional credit and were dependent on informal moneylenders. Over time, the scope of these societies expanded to include resource management, technological support, and welfare activities, reflecting the evolution of cooperative philosophy