Centre reviews Odisha fisheries growth, calls for stronger value chain

Bhubaneswar: The Centre on Tuesday urged Odisha to strengthen its fisheries value chain and tap its export potential through closer collaboration among fishers, fish farmers, exporters, cooperatives and producer organisations.Chairing a review meeting on fisheries and aquaculture development in Odisha, Union fisheries minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh said the state has emerged as a major fisheries hub, with fish production touching 12.7 lakh metric tonnes in 2025-26. The sector supports more than 16 lakh fishers and generated seafood exports worth Rs 5,429 crore, he said.Singh appreciated Odisha’s progress in freshwater, brackish water and marine fisheries and highlighted the Centre’s support under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Projects worth more than Rs 1,300 crore have been approved for the state, covering fish production enhancement, infrastructure creation, technology adoption, fisher welfare and post-harvest facilities.He stressed the need for capacity building, value addition through modern processing facilities and diversification into high-value fish species to improve competitiveness and boost exports. Stronger linkages among stakeholders would help raise incomes across the fisheries sector, he said.The review meeting, held in Bhubaneswar, was attended by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, minister of state for fisheries S P Singh Baghel, Odisha fisheries minister Gokulananda Mallik and senior officials from the Centre, the state government, NFDB, ICAR institutes, NABARD and NCDC.Fisheries secretary Abhilaksh Likhi called for greater convergence between central schemes, state initiatives, financial institutions and research organisations to maximise the impact of fisheries development programmes. He also emphasised timely project execution, innovation and outcome-based monitoring.Officials reviewed the implementation of key schemes, including PMMSY, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund, Kisan Credit Card coverage and PM-MKSSY. Discussions also focused on expanding fisheries infrastructure, improving traceability, strengthening cold-chain and processing facilities, and promoting high-value species such as seabass, scampi, pompano and tilapia.