Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh reviews fisheries schemes, calls for value addition, stronger exports and integrated aquaculture development in Odisha

Key Highlights

• Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh chaired a high-level review meeting on fisheries and aquaculture development in Odisha.
• Odisha produced 12.70 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of fish during 2025-26.
• The state’s seafood exports reached ₹5,429 crore, supporting more than 16 lakh fishers.
• Projects worth over ₹1,301 crore have been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• Focus areas include value addition, export-oriented seafood processing, fisheries infrastructure and high-value aquaculture.
• Government emphasised stronger collaboration among fishers, cooperatives, FFPOs, exporters and financial institutions.

Government Pushes Odisha’s Fisheries Sector Towards Higher Seafood Exports and Value-Added Growth

Bhubaneswar, July 8, 2026: The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying reviewed the implementation of fisheries and aquaculture development programmes in Odisha, reaffirming the state’s strategic role in India’s Blue Economy and seafood export ecosystem.

The review meeting, chaired by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, brought together senior officials from the Central Government, Odisha Government, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), ICAR institutions, NABARD, NCDC and other key stakeholders to assess the progress of major fisheries schemes and identify opportunities for future growth.

Odisha Emerges as a Key Fisheries Hub

During the meeting, the Union Minister highlighted Odisha’s strong performance in fisheries and aquaculture.

Key achievements include:

• 12.70 lakh MT fish production during 2025-26.
• Livelihood support for over 16 lakh fishers.
• Seafood exports worth ₹5,429 crore.
• More than ₹1,301 crore worth of fisheries projects approved under PMMSY.

The sanctioned projects cover fish production enhancement, fisheries infrastructure, technology adoption, post-harvest facilities, fisher welfare and aquaculture development.

Greater Focus on Seafood Value Addition

The Ministry urged Odisha to strengthen its fisheries value chain by expanding:

• Modern seafood processing facilities.
• Export-oriented value addition.
• Cold chain infrastructure.
• Fisheries cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs).
• Capacity-building programmes for fishers.
• Market access for premium seafood products.

The government also stressed the need to diversify aquaculture by promoting high-value species such as scampi, seabass, pompano and tilapia, improving both profitability and export competitiveness.

Review of Central Fisheries Schemes

Officials reviewed the implementation of several flagship programmes, including:

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
• Kisan Credit Card (KCC) for fishers.
• PM-MKSSY.

The discussions also covered progress in:

• Fishing harbours and landing centres.
• Hatcheries and feed mills.
• Reservoir cage culture.
• Artificial reefs.
• Climate-resilient coastal fishing villages.
• Fisheries cooperatives.
• Traceability systems.
• Fisheries infrastructure and export-oriented logistics.

Stakeholders emphasised better coordination between Central and State governments, financial institutions and research organisations to accelerate project implementation and strengthen Odisha’s fisheries ecosystem.

Hospitality & Tourism Impact

The continued expansion of Odisha’s fisheries sector is expected to benefit India’s hospitality and culinary tourism industries. Increased production of premium seafood and investment in processing infrastructure will strengthen supply chains for hotels, resorts, seafood restaurants and luxury hospitality brands seeking high-quality, traceable marine products.

For coastal tourism destinations such as Puri, Konark, Gopalpur, Chandipur and Paradeep, stronger fisheries infrastructure can support seafood-based culinary experiences, local food festivals and sustainable coastal tourism initiatives. Enhanced cold-chain logistics and export-grade processing facilities will also improve product quality for domestic hospitality businesses while reinforcing Odisha’s position as a leading seafood destination.

As India’s Blue Economy gathers momentum, initiatives focused on fisheries value addition, marine exports and sustainable aquaculture are expected to create new opportunities for food tourism, hospitality supply chains, coastal entrepreneurship and regional economic development.