DBT Bureau
Pune, 23 May 2026
India’s cold-water fisheries sector is emerging as an important part of the Blue Economy by generating livelihoods, improving nutrition, promoting eco-tourism, and supporting sustainable mountain development. Once limited to traditional fishing in Himalayan streams, the sector has evolved into a modern aquaculture ecosystem supported by scientific farming and advanced infrastructure.
Cold-water fisheries are practiced in high-altitude snow-fed rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs with temperatures ranging between 5°C and 25°C, dissolved oxygen above 6 mg/L, and pH levels between 6.5 and 8.0. Species such as rainbow trout, golden mahseer, and snow trout are cultivated using hatcheries, raceways, RAS, biofloc systems, and cold-chain facilities. Trout farming is generally practiced above 1,500 metres altitude, while mahseer culture is suitable at relatively lower elevations.
Cold-water fisheries operate across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, along with hill districts of West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. These ecosystems cover more than 5.33 lakh sq. km of mountainous terrain. India has identified over 278 cold-water fish species, supporting biodiversity conservation and sustainable mountain development.
Current Status and Production
India’s total fish production reached approximately 197.75 lakh tonnes during 2024–25, with cold-water fisheries contributing nearly 3% of inland fish production. National cold-water fish production stands at around 7,000 metric tonnes, while trout production has increased nearly 1.8 times over the last decade to about 6,000 metric tonnes in 2024–25.
Jammu & Kashmir is India’s leading trout-producing region with around 3,010 MT production in 2024–25, supported by the Kokernag hatchery and over 2,000 private trout units. Himachal Pradesh produced around 1,673 MT trout in 2025–26 with 909 trout farmers and 1,739 trout farming units. Uttarakhand recorded around 710 MT trout production and total fish production of 10,486 MT during 2024–25, supported by nearly 2,500 raceways. Ladakh crossed 50 MT production with 120 raceways and four hatcheries despite harsh climatic conditions.
North Eastern states including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Nagaland are expanding hatcheries and trout farming, while Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are adopting pilot RAS and biofloc systems in hill regions.
The sector has created significant livelihood opportunities. Across cold-water states, 23.51 lakh families have received livelihood support, while 33.78 lakh fishers have been covered under insurance schemes. Jammu & Kashmir alone has over 31,000 registered fishers and fish farmers.
Key Investments and Infrastructure Development
The Government of India has made major investments in cold-water fisheries infrastructure through flagship schemes and targeted interventions.
Under PMMSY during 2020–26, projects worth ₹21,963.48 crore have been approved nationally, including over ₹5,638.76 crore for cold-water states. These investments include 5,663 raceways, 54 trout hatcheries, 13 large RAS units, 16 medium RAS units, 36 small RAS units, nearly 4,600 ponds in Himalayan and North Eastern regions, 293 cold storages, and 8,366 transport vehicles.
State-specific investments include ₹317.25 crore for Uttarakhand, ₹155.48 crore for Himachal Pradesh, ₹149.73 crore for Jammu & Kashmir, and ₹33.49 crore for Ladakh. These projects support raceways, trout hatcheries, biofloc systems, fish feed mills, fish kiosks, ornamental fisheries units, refrigerated transport, and reservoir stocking programmes.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) approved projects worth ₹7,761.78 crore during 2018–26 for hatcheries, training centres, and fisheries infrastructure. The Blue Revolution Scheme (2015–20) supported scientific trout farming through raceways, hatcheries, and reservoir stocking.
Under PM-MKSSY with an outlay of ₹6,000 crore, support is being provided for aquaculture insurance, performance grants to fisheries startups and microenterprises, and value-chain efficiency.
Integrated Aqua Parks established at Anantnag, Udham Singh Nagar, Ziro, and Mokokchung are emerging as fisheries hubs equipped with hatcheries, processing facilities, cold-chain systems, value-addition infrastructure, and marketing support.
Four Cold Water Fisheries Clusters have also been notified at Anantnag, Pithoragarh, Kullu, and Kargil.
Regional Achievements
Jammu & Kashmir increased trout production from 298 MT in 2015–16 to 3,010 MT in 2025–26, becoming India’s leading trout-producing region. Himachal Pradesh adopted RAS technology and achieved captive breeding of golden mahseer.
Uttarakhand doubled its fish production to 10,486 MT and expanded nearly 2,500 raceways while promoting fisheries branding under “UttaraFish”. Ladakh demonstrated the viability of aquaculture in high-altitude desert conditions, with local trout seed production reaching 30,000 seed in Drass and 80,000 seed in Chochut.
Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Nagaland are expanding hatcheries and trout farming through aqua parks and fisheries clusters.
Hill regions of West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are adopting RAS and biofloc technologies to diversify aquaculture and improve water efficiency.
Policy Support and International Collaboration
Cold-water fisheries development has been supported through the Blue Revolution Scheme, PMMSY, PM-MKSSY, FIDF, and extension of Kisan Credit Card facilities to fishers.
Model Guidelines for Cold Water Fisheries Development, 2026, cover site selection, hatchery standards, disease management, biosecurity, branding, certification, e-trading, and skill development.
Startups are introducing innovations such as drone-enabled logistics, smart feeding systems, digital traceability platforms, and mobile applications connecting farmers with markets. Cooperatives, SHGs, and NGOs are supporting cluster-based production, women’s participation, and collective marketing.
India is also strengthening collaborations with Norway and Iceland for knowledge exchange in hatchery management, disease control, sustainable aquaculture systems, and export strategies.
Cold-water fisheries in India have evolved into a strategic component of the Blue Economy by combining scientific innovation, environmental sustainability, infrastructure development, and rural entrepreneurship.
Source: PIB
