The Department of Fisheries organised a national conference in Srinagar to discuss sustainable growth strategies for India’s cold water fisheries sector and strengthen aquaculture development.

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• The conference was organised by the Department of Fisheries at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar, bringing together policymakers, researchers and industry stakeholders.

• The event was held under the guidance of Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and attended by Manoj Sinha and Omar Abdullah.

• Discussions focused on sustainable development strategies, infrastructure expansion and technology adoption to strengthen the cold water fisheries sector across Himalayan and mountainous regions.

• Cold water fisheries are mainly found in Himalayan states such as Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

• These fisheries thrive in rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs across more than 5.33 lakh square kilometres of mountainous ecosystems in India.

• More than 278 species of cold water fish have been identified in India, contributing significantly to biodiversity conservation, nutrition security and livelihoods in remote regions.

• Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, the government has sanctioned investments worth ₹2,299.56 crore for cold water fisheries development.

• The scheme focuses on expanding hatcheries, improving fish seed and feed systems, developing raceway facilities and strengthening cold-chain and transport infrastructure.