**Executive Summary**
This report outlines the transformation of India’s cold-water fisheries into a strategic pillar of the Blue Economy through scientific innovation and substantial infrastructure investment. Spanning the 2018–2026 period, key initiatives include the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the issuance of the Model Guidelines for Cold Water Fisheries Development, 2026. The sector aims to bolster livelihoods for millions of fishers while increasing trout production and establishing integrated aqua parks across Himalayan and North Eastern regions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Production Trends and Regional Performance**
* Total national fish production reached 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024–25, with cold-water fisheries contributing 3% of inland production.
* Trout production has grown 1.8 times over the last decade, reaching approximately 6,000 metric tonnes (MT) in 2024–25.
* Jammu & Kashmir is the leading trout producer (3,010 MT in 2024–25), followed by Himachal Pradesh (1,673 MT) and Uttarakhand.
* Ladakh has achieved over 50 MT production and successfully produced 110,000 seeds in high-altitude desert conditions.
**Infrastructure and Financial Investments**
* Under PMMSY (2020–26), ₹5,638.76 crore has been sanctioned specifically for cold-water states to fund raceways, hatcheries, and RAS units.
* The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) approved ₹7,761.78 crore for training centres and infrastructure between 2018 and 2026.
* Four Integrated Aqua Parks and four specific Cold Water Fisheries Clusters have been established to serve as modern processing and marketing hubs.
* Infrastructure assets include 5,663 raceways, 54 trout hatcheries, 293 cold storages, and over 8,300 transport vehicles.
**Policy Framework and Innovation**
* The Government issued "Model Guidelines for Cold Water Fisheries Development, 2026," covering biosecurity, certification, and e-trading.
* The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility has been extended to fishers to provide financial liquidity.
* Startups are integrating drone-enabled logistics, smart feeding systems, and digital traceability platforms into the supply chain.
* International collaborations with Norway and Iceland are being utilized for knowledge exchange in disease control and hatchery management.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Fishers and Fish Farmers**
**Impact**
They benefit from enhanced livelihood support, with 23.51 lakh families already assisted and 33.78 lakh fishers covered under insurance schemes. The extension of Kisan Credit Cards provides easier access to working capital.
**Action Required**
Fishers must register where required (as seen in J&K), adopt scientific farming practices outlined in the 2026 Model Guidelines, and utilize insurance and credit facilities for risk management.
**Stakeholder: Startups and Private Microenterprises**
**Impact**
Under PM-MKSSY, an outlay of ₹6,000 crore supports performance grants for startups and improvements in value chain efficiency. Opportunities exist for developing tech-driven solutions for logistics and market connectivity.
**Action Required**
Startups should focus on implementing innovations like drone logistics and mobile applications that connect farmers directly to markets, while leveraging available performance grants.
**Stakeholder: State Fisheries Departments and Cooperatives**
**Impact**
State entities receive significant targeted funding (e.g., ₹317.25 crore for Uttarakhand) to develop local infrastructure, branding (e.g., "UttaraFish"), and cluster-based production models.
**Action Required**
They are required to implement notified fisheries clusters, manage integrated aqua parks, and facilitate training for SHGs and NGOs to increase women’s participation in the sector.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A flagship scheme driving substantial investment in cold-water fisheries infrastructure, including raceways, hatcheries, and specialized aquaculture systems.
Model Guidelines for Cold Water Fisheries Development, 2026: A regulatory framework establishing standards for site selection, hatchery management, biosecurity, and certification for the cold-water sector.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF): A dedicated fund used to finance large-scale projects such as training centers, hatcheries, and critical fisheries infrastructure.
PM-MKSSY: An initiative providing aquaculture insurance, performance grants to startups, and support for value chain efficiency for fish farmers.
Blue Revolution Scheme: The foundational policy that established the basis for scientific trout farming and infrastructure support in high-altitude regions.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
India’s Cold Water Fisheries Emerging as a Key
Pillar of the Blue Economy
Posted On: 23 MAY 2026 5:06PM by PIB Delhi
India’s cold water fisheries sector is emerging as an important component of the Blue Economy by
generating livelihoods, improving nutrition, promoting eco-tourism, and supporting sustainable mountain
development. Once limited to traditional fishing in Himalayan streams, the sector has evolved into a
modern aquaculture ecosystem supported by scientific farming and advanced infrastructure.
Cold-water fisheries are practiced in high-altitude snow-fed rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs with
temperatures ranging between 5°C and 25°C, dissolved oxygen above 6 mg/L, and pH levels between 6.5
and 8.0. Species such as rainbow trout, golden mahseer, and snow trout are cultivated using specialized
infrastructure including hatcheries, raceways, RAS, biofloc systems, and cold chain facilities. Trout
farming is generally practiced above 1,500 metres altitude, while mahseer culture is suitable at relatively
lower elevations.
Cold-water fisheries flourish across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, along with hill districts of West Bengal, Kerala,
Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Together, these ecosystems cover more than 5.33 lakh sq. km of mountainous
terrain. India has identified over 278 cold-water fish species, making the sector important for biodiversity
conservation and sustainable mountain development.
Current Status and Production
India’s total fish production reached approximately 197.75 lakh tonnes during 2024–25, with cold-water
fisheries contributing nearly 3 percent of inland fish production. National cold-water fish production
currently stands at around 7,000 metric tonnes, while trout production alone has increased nearly 1.8 times
over the last decade to about 6,000 metric tonnes in 2024–25.
Jammu & Kashmir has emerged as India’s leading trout producing region with around 3,010 MT
production in 2024–25, supported by the Kokernag hatchery and over 2,000 private trout units. Himachal
Pradesh produced around 1,673 MT trout in 2025–26 with 909 trout farmers and 1,739 trout farming units.
Uttarakhand recorded around 710 MT trout production and total fish production of 10,486 MT during
2024–25, supported by nearly 2,500 raceways across districts such as Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, and
Chamoli. Ladakh has crossed 50 MT production with 120 raceways and four hatcheries despite its harsh
climatic conditions.
North Eastern states including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Nagaland are steadily
expanding hatcheries and trout farming, while Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are adopting pilot RAS
and biofloc systems in hill regions such as Wayanad, Nilgiris, and Uttara Kannada.
The sector has generated significant livelihood opportunities. Across cold-water states, 23.51 lakh families
have received livelihood support, while 33.78 lakh fishers have been covered under insurance schemes.
Jammu & Kashmir alone has over 31,000 registered fishers and fish farmers.Key Investments and Infrastructure Development
The Government of India has made substantial investments in cold-water fisheries infrastructure through
flagship schemes and targeted interventions.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) during 2020–26, projects worth
₹21,963.48 crore have been approved nationally, including over ₹5,638.76 crore sanctioned specifically
for cold-water states. These investments include 5,663 raceways, 54 trout hatcheries, 13 large RAS units,
16 medium RAS units, 36 small RAS units, nearly 4,600 ponds in Himalayan and North Eastern regions,
293 cold storages, and 8,366 transport vehicles.
State-specific investments include ₹317.25 crore for Uttarakhand, ₹155.48 crore for Himachal Pradesh,
₹149.73 crore for Jammu & Kashmir, and ₹33.49 crore for Ladakh. These projects support raceways, trout
hatcheries, biofloc systems, fish feed mills, fish kiosks, ornamental fisheries units, refrigerated transport,
and reservoir stocking programmes.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) approved projects worth
₹7,761.78 crore during 2018–26 for hatcheries, training centres, and fisheries infrastructure. The Blue
Revolution Scheme (2015–20) laid the foundation for scientific trout farming through support for
raceways, hatcheries, and reservoir stocking.
Under PM-MKSSY with an outlay of ₹6,000 crore, support is being provided for aquaculture insurance,
performance grants to fisheries startups/microenterprises, and value chain efficiency — directly benefiting
cold-water fish farmers.
Integrated Aqua Parks established at Anantnag (UT of J&K), Udham Singh Nagar (Uttarakhand), Ziro
(Arunachal Pradesh), and Mokokchung (Nagaland) are emerging as modern fisheries hubs equipped with
hatcheries, processing facilities, cold chain systems, value addition infrastructure, and marketing support.
Four Cold Water Fisheries Clusters have also been notified at Anantnag (J&K), Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand),
Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), and Kargil (UT of Ladakh).
Regional Achievements
Jammu & Kashmir has increased trout production from 298 MT in 2015–16 to 3,010 MT in 2025–26,
making it India’s leading trout producing region. Himachal Pradesh pioneered adoption of RAS and
achieved captive breeding of golden mahseer.
Uttarakhand has doubled its fish production to 10,486 MT and expanded nearly 2,500 raceways while
promoting fisheries branding under “UttaraFish”. Ladakh has demonstrated the viability of aquaculture in
high-altitude desert conditions with local trout seed production reaching 30,000 seed in Drass and 80,000
seed in Chochut.
Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Nagaland are expanding hatcheries and trout farming through
aqua parks and fisheries clusters.
Meanwhile, hill regions of West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are adopting RAS and
biofloc technologies to diversify aquaculture and improve water efficiency.
Policy Initiatives and International Collaboration
The development of cold water fisheries has been driven by sustained policy interventions through the
Blue Revolution Scheme, PMMSY, PM-MKSSY, FIDF, and extension of Kisan Credit Card facilities to
fishers.The Government has also issued Model Guidelines for Cold Water Fisheries Development, 2026, covering
site selection, hatchery standards, disease management, biosecurity, branding, certification, e-trading, and
skill development.
The thrust on cold-water fisheries aligns with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s emphasis on expanding startup
ecosystems, solar-powered infrastructure, and fast-tracking beneficiary-oriented schemes under the Blue
Economy."
Startups are introducing innovations such as drone-enabled logistics, smart feeding systems, digital
traceability platforms, and mobile applications connecting farmers directly with markets. Cooperatives,
SHGs, and NGOs are supporting cluster-based production, women’s participation, and collective
marketing.
India is also strengthening international collaborations with Norway and Iceland for knowledge exchange
in hatchery management, disease control, sustainable aquaculture systems, and export strategies.
Cold-water fisheries in India are no longer a marginal activity confined to remote streams. They have
evolved into a strategic component of India’s Blue Economy by combining scientific innovation,
environmental sustainability, infrastructure development, and rural entrepreneurship.
***
JP
(Release ID: 2264535) Visitor Counter : 1281
Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Punjabi , Gujarati , Tamil , Kannada