MADHYA Pradesh has witnessed a historic transformation in its fisheries sector over the past two years, with significant gains in production, employment, and the income of fisherfolk, said Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Fisheries Welfare and Development, Narayan Singh Panwar. Addressing a press conference, he highlighted that fisheries have evolved from being merely a livelihood option to a strong driver of socio-economic upliftment.

 

Minister Panwar noted that the state has around 4.42 lakh hectares of water resources, including rivers, reservoirs, and ponds, providing an ideal environment for fisheries development. Fish production has shown consistent growth, rising from 3.41 lakh metric tons in 2022-23 to approximately 4.45 lakh metric tons in 2024-25.

 

The adoption of modern techniques like cage culture, biofloc systems, and Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) has significantly enhanced productivity, while the effective implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has accelerated the state’s “Blue Revolution.”

 

Over Rs 122.5 crore worth of PMMSY projects were sanctioned in 2024-25, providing fisher families with boats, nets, ice boxes, motorcycles, and coldchain facilities, directly boosting their income. The sector has also generated thousands of new employment opportunities, strengthened rural economies, and ensured better market access for fish through value addition, processing, and cold storage infrastructure.

 

Minister Panwar emphasized that integrated aquaparks, research centers, tunnel aquariums, incubation units, water treatment plants, and amusement zones have been introduced, creating new avenues for employment and tourism alongside increased fish production. Efforts through the Fisheries Federation are enhancing branding, marketing, and value addition, giving fish produce national recognition.

 

“Our goal is to make fisheries not just a source of production but a sustainable foundation for income, employment, and selfreliance,” Minister Panwar said. He added that the positive developments over the last two years are positioning Madhya Pradesh as a leading state in India’s fisheries sector.