Cold-water fisheries in India

Source: PIB
GS III: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. 2024-25 Status
3. Government Intervention
4. International Collaboration
5. After Read

Why in the News?

India’s cold water fisheries sector is emerging as an important component of the Blue Economy.

News in Brief

• Blue Economy sector is now 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.

Background

• Cold-water fisheries are practised in high-altitude snow-fed rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs.
• The region 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 cultivated
  • Rainbow trout
  • Golden mahseer
  • Snow trout
• Used specialized infrastructure.
  • Hatcheries
  • Raceways,
  • RAS
  • Biofloc systems
  • Cold chain facilities.

Trout farming is generally practiced above 1,500 metres altitude, while mahseer culture is suitable at relatively lower elevations.

• Regional Spread
  • Cold-water fisheries flourish across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.
  • Besides the 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.

2024-25 Status

• Cold-water fisheries contributing nearly 3 percent of inland fish production.
• National cold-water fish production currently stands at around 7,000 metric tonnes.
• Tout production alone has increased nearly 1.8 times over the last decade to about 6,000 metric tonnes in 2024–25.

India’s total fish production reached approximately 197.75 lakh tonnes during 2024–25.

Major Shares from states

• 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.
• Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are adopting pilot RAS and biofloc systems in hill regions such as Wayanad, Nilgiris, and Uttara Kannada.

RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System) and Biofloc (BFT) are advanced, high-density farming methods. RAS uses mechanical filtration and UV sterilisation for crystal-clear water, while Biofloc relies on beneficial bacteria suspended in the water to consume waste and act as in-situ fish feed. Both allow for year-round production with minimal water exchange.

Impact on Livelihood

• The sector has generated significant livelihood opportunities.
• Across cold-water states, 23.51 lakh families have received livelihood support
• 33.78 lakh fishers have been covered under insurance schemes.
• Jammu & Kashmir alone has over 31,000 registered fishers and fish farmers.

Government Intervention

• 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
  • ₹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.
• 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.
• 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).

International Collaboration

• Strengthening international collaborations with Norway and Iceland for knowledge exchange in hatchery management, disease control, sustainable aquaculture systems, and export strategies.
•  Focus Areas:
  • Hatchery management
  • Disease control
  • Sustainable aquaculture
  • Export strategies

After Read

Quick Prelims Facts Revision

• India has 278+ cold-water fish species
• Cold-water fisheries contribute around 3% of inland fish production
• India’s trout production: around 6,000 MT
• Largest trout-producing region:
  • Jammu and Kashmir
• Important fisheries clusters:
  • Anantnag
  • Pithoragarh
  • Kullu
  • Kargil

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