West Bengal Fisheries Review Meeting Charts Export Growth Roadmap
The Department of Fisheries, Government of India organized a high-level review meeting on September 21, 2026 in Kolkata to develop fisheries and aquaculture in West Bengal, co-chaired by Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari. This was the first such meeting in over a decade, aimed at unlocking the state's untapped fisheries potential.
During the meeting, the Union Minister handed over administrative approval for development of 6 reservoirs at a cost of ₹832.50 lakh (approximately ₹8.33 crore) with central share of ₹499.50 lakh (approximately ₹5.00 crore). He highlighted that West Bengal, despite being India's second-largest fish-producing state, has significant scope to increase productivity, aquaculture, exports and value addition. The state currently exports fisheries products worth about ₹5,000 crore but has potential to increase this to ₹15,000-20,000 crore through aquaculture expansion, particularly focusing on Sundarbans' potential for high-value species including black tiger shrimp, mud crab, hilsa and ornamental fish.
India's overall fish production has increased from 95.7 lakh tonnes in 2014 to 197.75 lakh tonnes, while fisheries exports have more than doubled to ₹73,890 crore. The Union Minister emphasized need to strengthen seed quality, feed, disease management, cold chain infrastructure, fishing harbours, fish landing centres and deep-sea fishing capabilities under the upcoming PMMSY 2.0 scheme.
Chief Minister Adhikari underscored the state's commitment to working with the central government to unlock fisheries potential, particularly in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Sundarbans region. He highlighted importance of PMMSY, National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) and PM-MKSSY initiatives, while stressing need for enhanced safety and security of fishermen through better communication systems, wireless connectivity, control room infrastructure and emergency response mechanisms. He noted nearly 50 lakh people depend on the sector in West Bengal.
State Fisheries Minister Shri Rajesh Mahata reported that West Bengal recorded fish production of 25.43 lakh metric tonnes in 2025-26, maintaining its position as second-largest fish-producing state and leading fish seed producer in India. Under PMMSY, fisheries interventions worth ₹102.23 crore of Central share and ₹66.48 crore of State share have been mobilized in the state.
Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Kumar Agarwal emphasized that only a fraction of the state's fisheries potential has been harnessed and called for closer coordination between central and state governments, accelerated scheme implementation, and greater farmer participation through the National Fisheries Digital Platform.
Secretary Shri Shubhanjan Das highlighted that the fisheries sector supports livelihoods of nearly 32 lakh people in the state. Implementation of long-pending PMMSY projects including upgradation of fishing harbours at Fraserganj, Kakdwip, Shankarpur and Petuaghat has been expedited, with continued support sought under PMMSY Phase-II.
Multiple research and regulatory institutions proposed specific interventions: Coastal Aquaculture Authority committed to expediting farm registrations and export compliance; ICAR-CIFA emphasized seed quality improvement through broodstock management and hatchery certification; ICAR-CIBA highlighted brackish water aquaculture potential through mud crab, seabass, black tiger shrimp and cage culture; ICAR-CMFRI stressed sustainable marine fisheries management and mariculture promotion; ICAR-CIFRI proposed structured training programs; and ICAR-NBFGR emphasized genetic resource conservation and disease surveillance.
The meeting concluded with a framework for focused action on productivity enhancement, infrastructure development, technology adoption, and capacity building to realize West Bengal's full fisheries potential.