Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Monday inaugurated and laid the foundation for 50 projects worth ₹50 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in Guwahati, Assam.
The projects, announced during the North Eastern Region State Meet-2025, span various North Eastern Region (NER) states, with the exception of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.
As part of the event, the minister launched India’s first organic fisheries cluster in Soreng District, Sikkim, under the PMMSY initiative. This development is intended to promote organic fisheries and aquaculture in alignment with Sikkim’s organic farming practices, aiming to encourage sustainable and environmentally friendly production.
The cluster will incorporate ecological fish farming methods, avoiding harmful chemicals and promoting minimal environmental pollution. This approach supports sustainable production, mitigates ecosystem damage, and aligns with market trends favoring organic products. Key fish species, including amur carp, will form part of this initiative. NABARD will support the cluster by funding infrastructure, building capacities, and forming fisheries-based Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs).
The PMMSY implements a cluster-based approach designed to enhance competitiveness, create economies of scale, and strengthen fisheries’ value chains across India. This model brings together enterprises from production to export, fostering cooperation and addressing value chain gaps to create business opportunities and livelihoods.
Under this framework, production and processing clusters will be developed in key areas such as freshwater aquaculture, brackish-water fisheries, ornamental fisheries, and organic fisheries, addressing region-specific needs.
The North Eastern Region is prioritized as a key area for fisheries development. The region’s freshwater resources and aquatic biodiversity support efforts to increase inland fish production and boost economic development. Investments of ₹2,114 crore have been made in the NER through initiatives such as the PMMSY, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund, and the Blue Revolution Scheme.
These initiatives have led to an increase in inland fish production from 4.03 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 to 6.41 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, reflecting annual growth in the sector. Current efforts include the establishment of aquaculture parks, hatcheries, fish processing units, and the promotion of technologies such as Biofloc systems and recirculatory aquaculture systems (RAS).
The newly announced projects in the NER, with a central investment of ₹38.63 crore, aim to generate over 4,500 employment opportunities, both direct and indirect, in the region. These steps are part of India’s broader strategy to sustain its position as the world’s second-largest fish producer and a major contributor to global aquaculture and shrimp exports.
Since 2015, the Government of India has invested ₹38,572 crore in fisheries initiatives to expand infrastructure, improve productivity, and drive sustainable development. These efforts have positioned the fisheries sector as an integral part of the country’s economy and a contributor to its Blue Economy vision.