Union Secretary Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi of the Department of Fisheries visited Munsyari, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand on October 18, 2026, to review coldwater aquaculture development in the Himalayan region. During the visit, he interacted with trout farmers at Johar Matsya Swayatt Sehkarita and Namjala Trout Farm, appreciating the role of local cooperatives in adopting rainbow trout farming as a sustainable livelihood. The Secretary noted that Munsyari has emerged as a hub for rainbow trout culture due to its glacial streams of the Gori Ganga and ideal water temperature, transforming subsistence farming into semi-commercial enterprise.
The Government of India has notified 34 fisheries clusters nationwide, with Pithoragarh designated as a Cold Water Fisheries Cluster under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The scheme has invested over ₹2,299 crore in coldwater regions across six hilly states and union territories—Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. This investment has supported the development of 5,600 raceways, 54 hatcheries, 293 cold storages, and 260 feed mills. Trout production has grown six-fold in the last decade, reaching nearly 5,000 metric tons annually.
In Uttarakhand specifically, projects worth ₹317 crore have been sanctioned, including modern fish markets, landing centres, and an integrated aquapark at Sitarganj. The state has also launched the Trout Protsahan Yojna with an outlay of ₹170 crore, aiming to establish 1,500 raceways, 100 mini hatcheries, and 600 cold-storage facilities by 2028–29. The state achieved its first international trout export to Nepal in June 2026 and supplies trout to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) under a memorandum of understanding.
The Secretary highlighted the strategic importance of coldwater fisheries for livelihood diversification, nutritional security, and export potential in border regions. He commended the ICAR-Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR), Bhimtal, for introducing rainbow trout to Munsyari and providing scientific support in seed production, disease management, and farmer training. The visit underscored the socio-economic impact of trout farming in border villages, providing livelihood diversification, eco-tourism opportunities, and institutional market linkages with ITBP, while also contributing to conservation of endangered species like Mahseer.