Parliament Question: Import of Fish into West Bengal from Foreign Countries and Inter-State Sources

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1656 ANSWERED ON THE 13/02/2026 IMPORT OF FISH INTO WEST BENGAL FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND INTER-STATE SOURCES

1656. SHRI SAMIK BHATTACHARYA

Will the Minister of Commerce and Industry be pleased to state that:

(a) quantity and value of fish imported into West Bengal from foreign countries during each of the last five years, year-wise and country-wise, along with the species/variety of fish imported;

(b) quantity of fish brought into West Bengal from other States within country during the same period, State-wise and variety-wise;

(c) whether Government maintains data on dependence of West Bengal on imported fish to meet local demand, and if so, the details thereof;

(d) ports/land customs stations through which such fish imports are routed; and

(e) measures taken to promote domestic fish production and reduce import dependence while safeguarding livelihoods of local fishermen in West Bengal? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) Import of Marine products including fish under the various items during the last five FY and current FY 2025-26 (April to November) to West Bengal is placed at Annexure- I.

(b) During the year 2022–23, 1.51 LMT of fish was brought into West Bengal from other States, which decreased to 1.36 LMT in 2023–24 and further declined to 1.22 LMT in 2024–

25. This primarily comprised Indian Major Carps sourced from Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar.

(c) & (d) The import of fish and fisheries' products is regulated under the Livestock Importation Act, 1898, as amended by the Livestock Importation (Amendment) Act, 2001 (Act No. 28 of

2001). Import of fish and fisheries products are permitted only through a network of designated ports of entry managed by six regional Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) offices, under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.

A total of 33 designated entry ports have been officially notified for the import of fish and fisheries products into India. These include major airports, seaports, and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) operating under the jurisdiction of AQ&CS offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. The entry ports are strategically distributed across the country to ensure effective geographic coverage, facilitate regulated and biosecure imports, 1and ensure strict adherence to quarantine and sanitary requirements for livestock and fisheries consignments.

In West Bengal, the notified ports of entry for the import of fish and fisheries products include land ports such as Petrapole and Jaigaon, along with Kolkata Seaport and Airport enabling efficient handling and regulatory oversight of import consignments in the region.

(e) To promote sustainable development of the fisheries sector, enhance domestic fish production, reduce import dependence, and safeguard the livelihoods of local fishermen in West Bengal, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, has been implementing the flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) since 2020–21. The scheme is being implemented across all States and Union Territories, including West Bengal, for a period of five years (2020–21 to 2024–25) and continues in the current financial year 2025–26.

During the period from 2020–21 to 2024–25, and including the current year 2025–26, the Department of Fisheries has accorded approvals to fisheries development proposals submitted by the Government of West Bengal with a total outlay of ₹550.18 crore. These interventions aim to strengthen fisheries and aquaculture production, improve infrastructure, and enhance efficiency across the entire fisheries value chain.

Key interventions supported under PMMSY in West Bengal include the establishment of finfish hatcheries, construction of grow-out and rearing ponds, promotion of biofloc systems, backyard ornamental fish rearing units, brood banks, cold storage facilities, ice plants, quality fish production, technology infusion, expansion and diversification of aquaculture. The scheme also supports the development of fish transportation facilities, fish retail markets, fish kiosks, value-added fish processing enterprises, e-platforms for e-trading and e-marketing, and strengthened extension and support services. These measures collectively contribute to increased domestic fish production, reduced import dependence, and improved income and livelihood security for local fishermen in the State.

***** 2Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) of Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1656 for answer on 13.02.2026.

Annexure- I [Values in Million(M) USD] (Units in KGs) 2025-26 (as on 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Nov) VA VA VA VA VA VA COUN QUA LU QUA LU QUA LU QUA LU QUA LU QUA LU ITEM TRY NTIT E NTIT E NTIT E NTIT E NTIT E NTIT E DESCRIPTION NAME Y (IN Y (IN Y (IN Y (IN Y (IN Y (IN M$) M$) M$) M$) M$) M$) CROAKERS, 51300 0.05 GROUPERS AND FLOUNDERS FROZEN FRESHWATER 340 0.00 2727 0.02 30 0.00 ORNAMENTAL FISH TILAPIAS 19958 0.05 FROZEN TROUT FRESH 100 0.02 OR CHILLED OTHER 17250 0.12 18000 0.11 SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS MAURI FRESHWATER 50 0.00 TANIA ORNAMENTAL FISH VANNAMEI 14625 0.12 15750 0.11 SHRIMP (LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI) FRESHWATER 100 0.00 ORNAMENTAL FISH FRESHWATER 1035 0.01 143 0.02 268 0.02 137 0.02 367 0.06 438 0.03 ORNAMENTAL FISH CHANKS 15820 0.00 CORAL 1 0.00 6 0.00 UNWRKD/SMP LY PRPD BT NT OTHRWSE WRKD OTHER 54220 0.10 3VANNAMEI 15300 0.11 SHRIMP (LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI) FRESHWATER 735 0.00 591 0.02 181 0.02 356 0.03 143 0.01 416 0.01 ORNAMENTAL FISH VANNAMEI 9350 0.06 SHRIMP (LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI) SARDINES, 28037 0.02 SARDINELLA, BRISLING OR SPRATS FROZEN HILSA ( 14047 1.08 41215 3.32 14922 0.95 58897 4.06 65127 6.24 48647 4.53 TENUALOSA 4 4 5 5 5 5 ILISHA) FRESH OR CHILLED HILSA ( 29448 1.84 TENUALOSA 5 ILISHA) FRESH OR CHILLED CATFISH 12672 0.11 15394 0.15 11006 0.01 73998 0.08 6180 0.01 FROZEN 0 5 FRESHWATER 855 0.00 223 0.00 103 0.00 294 0.01 240 0.00 37 0.00 ORNAMENTAL FISH TILAPIAS 19958 0.17 FROZEN VANNAMEI 20000 0.15 SHRIMP (LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI) FRESHWATER 1210 0.00 ORNAMENTAL FISH OTHER 2345 0.01 FISH,MEAL,UN FT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION FRESHWATER 5960 0.02 444 0.02 572 0.03 1325 0.07 976 0.05 825 0.03 ORNAMENTAL FISH OTHER FISH 53860 0.06 22879 0.03 INCL NILE PERCH AND SNAKEHEADS FROZEN 4VANNAMEI 18000 0.11 SHRIMP (LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI) FROZEN 605 0.01 FILLETS OF PACIFIC SALMON VANNAMEI 48510 0.46 SHRIMP (LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI) OTHER 15000 0.21 15876 0.21 15876 0.29 SCAMPI UGAN FRSH OR CHLD 29067 0.21 40259 0.28 DA FILLETS NILE PERCH (LATES NILOTICUS) VANNAMEI 54000 0.43 90540 0.72 21795 1.45 11765 0.87 18306 0.11 SHRIMP 5 9 (LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI) OTHER FISH OF 69980 0.72 FAMILIES 0 BREGMACERO TIDAE, EUCLICHTHYI DAE, GADIDAE ETC FROZEN FRESHWATER 300 0.01 ORNAMENTAL FISH OTHER FISH OF 10908 0.08 FAMILIES 0 BREGMACERO TIDAE, EUCLICHTHYI DAE, GADIDAE ETC FROZEN Total 32900 1.41 88876 5.76 49981 2.72 16929 7.16 92076 7.83 65428 5.44 5 500 6 262 1 127 89 831 5 167 9 092 7 1

Source: DGCI&S 5