The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying held a high-level review meeting in Kolkata on 21 September 2026 to assess and plan the growth of fisheries and aquaculture in West Bengal. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari jointly led the meeting, which brought together senior officials from central and state governments, research institutions and industry bodies. The focus was on creating a roadmap to unlock the state’s untapped potential in fish production, aquaculture and seafood exports.
Key Announcements and Details
The Union Minister approved administrative sanction for the development of six reservoirs at a total cost of Rs. 832.50 lakh, with the central government contributing Rs. 499.50 lakh. West Bengal, as the country’s second-largest fish-producing state, produced 25.43 lakh metric tonnes of fish in 2025-26 and remains the leading fish seed producer nationally.
Current fisheries exports from West Bengal stand at around Rs. 5,000 crore annually. The meeting identified scope to triple this to Rs. 15,000 to 20,000 crore through expanded aquaculture, particularly in high-value species such as black tiger shrimp, mud crab, hilsa and ornamental fish, especially in the Sundarbans region. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the state has already mobilized Rs. 102.23 crore in central funding and Rs. 66.48 crore in state funding for fisheries interventions.
The fisheries sector currently supports the livelihoods of nearly 32 to 50 lakh people across West Bengal. Priority areas identified include improving fishing harbours at Fraserganj, Kakdwip, Shankarpur and Petuaghat, strengthening cold-chain infrastructure, expanding fisher registration through the National Fisheries Digital Platform, and promoting modern farming techniques such as biofloc and cage culture.
What this means for you
If you depend on fisheries for income, the meeting signals increased investment in infrastructure, technology and market access. Fish farmers can expect support for seed quality improvement, disease management and adoption of modern farming practices through research institutions. Fishermen operating in deep waters will benefit from planned improvements in communication systems, safety mechanisms and fishing harbours. Consumers and exporters may see improved supply chains and product quality as cold-chain and post-harvest infrastructure is strengthened across the state.