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India's Ornamental Fisheries Exports Hit Rs 41 Crore, Show Strong Growth

India's ornamental fisheries exports are estimated at Rs 41 crore, highlighting the sector's growing economic contribution. Under the PMMSY scheme, the government has established 1,986 backyard units, 6,018 fish kiosks, and a pioneering brood bank in Maharashtra. This brood bank conserves 25 fish varieties and has produced 7.7 lakh fish, generating Rs 1.93 crore in revenue. The sector exports to 12 countries and supports livelihoods for thousands of fisherfolk in Maharashtra.

Key Points: India's Ornamental Fisheries Exports Reach Rs 41 Crore

  • Exports estimated at Rs 41 crore
  • 1,986 backyard units and 6,018 fish kiosks supported
  • Brood bank produces 7.7 lakh fish, generating Rs 1.93 crore
  • Exported to 12 countries including US, Italy, and France
2 min read

India's ornamental fisheries exports reach Rs 41 crore

India's ornamental fisheries exports reach Rs 41 crore, supported by PMMSY initiatives, rich biodiversity, and growing global demand from countries like the US and Italy.

"The Brood Bank visited by the union secretary is first initiative of its kind in India, conserves and breeds more than 25 varieties of ornamental fish. - Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi"

New Delhi, May 9

India's ornamental fisheries exports are estimated at around Rs 41 crore, reflecting the sector's growing contribution to the economy, an official statement said on Saturday.

India hosts about 700 indigenous freshwater and over 300 marine species available domestically, reflecting vast resource potential.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), ornamental fisheries are emerging as a high-potential sector in India, supported by rich biodiversity and growing domestic and global demand, according to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

A total of 1,986 Backyard Ornamental Fish Rearing Units, 6,018 fish kiosks and aquariums, and 117 retail markets including dedicated ornamental fish and aquarium markets have been supported under the PMMSY.

Additionally, five Freshwater Ornamental Fish Brood Banks and 199 Integrated Ornamental Fish Units have been established, significantly strengthening the ornamental fisheries value chain and enhancing production, marketing and livelihood opportunities across the country.

Notably, the Department of fisheries has notified 34 fisheries production and processing clusters across key areas across India, including Ornamental fisheries Cluster in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, visited Ornamental Fisheries Brood Bank at Mangrul Village in Raigad, Maharashtra, established by Yashodhara Sanjay Khandagale under PMMSY.

The Secretary also interacted with beneficiaries of PMMSY to understand the gaps and challenges faced on ground.

The Brood Bank visited by the union secretary is first initiative of its kind in India, conserves and breeds more than 25 varieties of ornamental fish.

The brood bank has produced approximately 7.7 lakh ornamental fish across 20 species, generating an estimated revenue of Rs 1.93 crore and creating direct and indirect employment opportunities for around 25-30 individuals.

They export ornamental fish to the US, Italy, France, Mauritius, South Korea, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, China, Uzbekistan, Nigeria and Israel.

Maharashtra has a strong fisheries sector supported by both marine and inland resources. With a 877.97 km coastline, 173 fish landing centres, and 526 fishing villages, it supports over 15 lakh fisherfolk and produced about 5.9 lakh tonnes of fish in 2022-23.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

K
Kavya N
I visited the Mangrul brood bank last year – it's really impressive! 7.7 lakh fish produced and exports to 12 countries 👏 But the real story is the livelihoods: 25-30 jobs from one unit. Imagine if we scale this to 100 such brood banks across coastal districts. My uncle in Kerala started a small aquarium fish breeding unit with PMMSY help and now exports to Dubai!
V
Vikram M
Rs 41 crore is peanuts compared to shrimp exports which are in thousands of crores. But it's a start. The government should focus on value addition – breeding high-end species like Discus and Angelfish that fetch premium prices internationally. Also, why are we importing ornamental fish when we have such rich biodiversity? Make in India for aquariums!
P
Priya S
As someone who keeps an aquarium at home, this is heartening. But I worry about overharvesting wild species. The 300 marine species – are we ensuring sustainable breeding? The brood bank approach is good but needs strict regulation. Local fish stores in my area still sell wild-caught fish without any certification. Need awareness about captive-bred vs wild-caught.
R
Rohit P
Finally some good news from the fisheries sector! Maharashtra's contribution is commendable – 877 km coastline and 5.9 lakh tonnes production. But why only 25-30 jobs per brood bank? Need to scale up employment generation. Also, what about states like West Bengal and Andhra which have huge ornamental fish markets? Hope the cluster model expands beyond Madurai.
S
Siddharth J
The Secretary visiting the brood bank and interacting with ground-level beneficiaries is a good sign. Too often schemes

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