Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to launch key fisheries projects aimed at boosting production, employment, food processing and regional economic growth

Patna/Bhojpur, June 14, 2026: In a major push to strengthen India’s inland fisheries sector and rural economy, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh, along with Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, will lay the foundation stone of a ₹31.21 crore Integrated Aqua Park in Bhojpur and inaugurate the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) Regional Centre in Patna on June 15.

The projects are expected to accelerate Bihar’s emergence as a leading inland fisheries hub while creating new opportunities in food processing, cold-chain logistics, rural entrepreneurship and employment generation.

Key Highlights

• ₹31.21 crore Integrated Aqua Park approved under PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
• NFDB Regional Centre inaugurated in Patna to strengthen fisheries development in eastern India
• Bihar has received fisheries projects worth ₹902.84 crore over the last 11 years
• State’s fish production has more than doubled, moving Bihar from 9th to 4th among inland fish-producing states
• Bihar exports nearly 89,600 MT of fish annually to neighbouring states
• Wetland Fisheries Cluster covering 9.5 lakh hectares notified to enhance community-led fisheries management
• Infrastructure to include hatcheries, biofloc units, fish feed mills, laboratories and training facilities

Integrated Aqua Park to Drive Technology-Led Aquaculture

The Integrated Aqua Park, coming up at the Vanasaur Fish Seed Farm in Bhojpur district, will serve as a modern fisheries ecosystem integrating production, training and technology adoption.

The facility will house carp and catfish hatcheries, recirculatory aquaculture systems (RAS), biofloc units, fish feed manufacturing infrastructure, disease diagnostic laboratories, quarantine facilities and a 50-bed residential training hostel.

The project aims to improve the availability of quality fish seed, encourage adoption of scientific aquaculture practices and enhance income opportunities for fish farmers across Bihar and neighbouring regions.

NFDB Regional Centre to Strengthen Eastern India’s Fisheries Ecosystem

The newly inaugurated NFDB Regional Centre in Patna will function as a strategic institutional hub for Bihar and eastern India. It will focus on promoting advanced aquaculture technologies, capacity building, skill development and field-level implementation support for fish farmers and entrepreneurs.

The centre will also facilitate the adoption of modern systems such as cage culture, biofloc farming, RAS technology and precision aquaculture practices.

Bihar Emerges as a Major Inland Fisheries Producer

With extensive inland water resources comprising ponds, reservoirs, floodplain wetlands and over 21,000 kilometres of rivers and canals, Bihar has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing fisheries economies.

Government investments under PMMSY have helped create brood banks, hatcheries, feed plants, cold-chain infrastructure, fish transport systems and aquatic diagnostic laboratories, significantly improving the state’s production capabilities.

The state now ranks fourth among inland fish-producing states and has become a net exporter of fish to neighbouring markets.

Hospitality & Tourism Impact

The development of fisheries infrastructure has implications beyond agriculture. Increased fish production and improved cold-chain logistics can strengthen the supply ecosystem for hotels, restaurants, institutional catering and food service operators across eastern India.

The Integrated Aqua Park is also expected to emerge as a knowledge and training destination, attracting researchers, students, entrepreneurs and industry stakeholders. Such facilities can support educational tourism, skill-development visits and agri-tourism initiatives linked to sustainable food production.

For the hospitality sector, a more reliable supply of freshwater fish species such as Rohu, Catla, Mrigal, Tilapia and Pangasius can help diversify regional menus while supporting farm-to-table and locally sourced food concepts increasingly favoured by travellers.

As Bihar expands its fisheries value chain, opportunities are likely to grow in seafood processing, food exports, logistics, culinary innovation and tourism-led rural economic development.