**Executive Summary**
The Department of Fisheries organized the inaugural National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries on March 15, 2026, in Srinagar to discuss the sustainable development of India’s cold-water fisheries. The conference brought together government officials, academia, and industry leaders to address technical challenges, infrastructure gaps, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Key action items identified include the establishment of a multi-state cooperative for rainbow trout and the development of robust cold-chain and processing infrastructure.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Exhibition and Innovation**
* The event featured an exhibition with 17 exhibitors, including government agencies (NFDB, ICAR-CICFR), research institutions (SKUAST-Jammu), and private sector leaders.
* Displays focused on cutting-edge technologies, quality inputs, trout feed innovations, and best practices in cold-water aquaculture.
* **Technical and Strategic Deliberations**
* Sessions focused on five thematic areas: research and innovation, technology adoption, infrastructure expansion, institutional convergence, and entrepreneurship development.
* Discussions highlighted the unique on-ground potential and technical requirements for the Himalayan regions, specifically Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand.
* **Sectoral Challenges**
* Fish farmers and stakeholders identified critical field-level issues, including water contamination, oxygen depletion in raceways during rainfall, and water scarcity.
* Growth is currently hindered by limited commercial-scale adoption, lack of technological innovation, and a shortage of skilled manpower.
* There is a significant need for regular seed availability, climate-resilient broodstock, and improved laboratory support for disease testing.
* **Infrastructure and Policy Requirements**
* **Institutional Framework:** Proposal to establish a multi-state cooperative society for rainbow trout across cold-water states.
* **Processing and Value Addition:** Requirement for FSSAI-approved facilities equipped with Individual Quick Freezing (IQF), tunnel, or blast-freezing systems.
* **Quality Standards:** Implementation of robust cold-chain networks and biosecurity systems to meet export-grade phyto-sanitary standards.
* **Financial Access:** Strengthening entrepreneurship through vertical integration and improved access to schemes like the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
**Impact Analysis**
**Fish Farmers**
* **Impact:** They face production risks due to water scarcity, disease, and lack of climate-resilient seeds.
* **Action Required:** Participate in capacity-building programs and adopt efficient production models tailored to mountain ecosystems.
**Government Agencies (Department of Fisheries and ICAR)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for addressing infrastructure gaps and providing the necessary regulatory and research framework.
* **Action Required:** Establish disease testing laboratories, improve seed/broodstock availability, and facilitate the creation of a multi-state cooperative society.
**Industry Leaders and Entrepreneurs**
* **Impact:** Impacted by the lack of skilled labor and the absence of high-end processing facilities for export.
* **Action Required:** Utilize FIDF for enterprise expansion, invest in vertical integration, and adopt FSSAI-approved value-addition technologies.
**Academia and Researchers**
* **Impact:** Tasked with solving technical hurdles related to cold-water species and environmental stressors.
* **Action Required:** Advance research in climate-resilient seed development and biosecurity systems.
Key Entities Referenced
National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries, Srinagar: A first-of-its-kind national dialogue organized to discuss the sustainable development and potential of India’s cold-water fisheries.
Department of Fisheries: The primary government department under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying responsible for organizing the conference and overseeing sectoral growth.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF): A referenced government scheme aimed at supporting entrepreneurship and enterprise expansion in the fisheries sector.
Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi: The Union Secretary of the Department of Fisheries who chaired technical sessions and led interactions regarding sectoral challenges and potential.
ICAR-Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research: A key research organization that exhibited innovative technologies and participated in technical deliberations during the conference.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Technical Deliberations and Sectoral Innovations
spotlighted at National Cold Water Fisheries
Conference, Srinagar
Posted On: 15 MAR 2026 10:13AM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Fisheries organized the National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries at SKICC,
Srinagar, which was a first-of-its-kind national dialogue on sustainably harnessing the potential of India’s
cold-water fisheries for growth and prosperity.
An Exhibition showcasing cutting-edge innovations in Coldwater fisheries was organized on the sidelines
of the conference, featuring 17 Exhibitors from various institutions, Government agencies, Industry
leaders, and progressive enterprises displaying innovative technologies, quality inputs, and best practices.
Exhibitors included the National Fisheries Development Board; Department of Fisheries, UT of J&K;
SKUAST-Jammu; NABARD; Kashmir Trout; K2 Aquaculture Pvt. Ltd.; ICAR-Central Institute of
Coldwater Fisheries Research; National Cooperative Development Corporation; Garware Technical Fibres
Ltd., Sindh; Trout Live Fish Vending Centre; Ganderbal, MKC Foods, Matsya Seva Kendra from
Kupwara along with Trout feed companies such as Growel Trout Feed, ABIS Trout Feed, Affarwat Trout
from Baramulla, and JK Trout Feed.During the Conference, Technical Sessions were organized by Department of Fisheries, GoI to deliberate
on key thematic areas including research and innovation, technology adoption, infrastructure expansion,
institutional convergence and entrepreneurship development with various stakeholders. The sessions were
chaired by Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Union Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India, with Shri
Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary (Inland Fisheries), DoF, and Dr. J.K. Jena, DDG (Fisheries), ICAR, as
Co-Chairs. The session brought together Academia, Industry representatives, Experts, Entrepreneurs, and
Progressive Fish farmers.
During the session Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Union Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India
interacted with Entrepreneurs, Stakeholders and gained insights into the on-ground potential and
challenges of cold water fisheries in Jammu & Kashmir and other Himalayan regions, with discussions
focusing on technical aspects of sectoral development.
Fish farmers gave key suggestion including need for disease testing laboratories, regular seed
availability, capacity building requirements, climate-resilient seed availability and water scarcity.Mr. Pravesh Bisht, Secretary, Uplagajna Samiti, Uttarakhand, shared field-level challenges including
water contamination, improved laboratory support, and oxygen depletion in raceways during rainfall.
Mr. Qaiser Kaunanain, Khyber Aquaculture discussing Entrepreneurship development highlighted the
importance of strengthening entrepreneurship through vertical integration, and improved access to
schemes such as FIDF for enterprise expansion. He noted that the growth of cold-water aquaculture
depends on the availability of skilled manpower, and the adoption of efficient production and business
models tailored to mountain ecosystems.
Mr. Aditya Rithvik Narra, Founder, Smart Green Aquaculture, Hyderabad noted that cold-water fish
production remains limited due to commercial-scale adoption and technological innovation.
Across the four sessions, various stakeholders highlighted the need to establish a multi-state cooperative
society for rainbow trout across cold-water states, need to advance research and innovation, improving
seed and broodstock availability, and strengthening disease investigation and biosecurity systems. The
discussions highlighted the need for FSSAI-approved processing and value-addition facilities equipped
with IQF, tunnel or blast-freezing systems for cold-water States/UTs to meet export-grade phyto-sanitary
standards, along with a robust cold-chain network to reduce losses.***
JP
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