Fish Output Up 39.6% — NFDB's New Plan for Fish Farmers

India now produces more fish than ever before — 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, up from 141.64 lakh tonnes just five years earlier. That is a jump of nearly 40% in half a decade, and it was the headline number at the meeting that now sets the agenda for the country’s fisheries sector. On Thursday, 5 November 2026, Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) chaired the 13th Governing Body Meeting of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) in Hyderabad — and his message to the Board was blunt: reach the last fish farmer, finish projects on time, spend funds properly, and show measurable results.

This post explains what was decided, what the states asked for, and — most importantly — what fish farmers, fishers and small fisheries businesses should actually do next. Every date and figure below was checked against official sources on 7 November 2026.

NFDB meeting at a glance

Item	Verified fact
Meeting	13th Governing Body Meeting of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB)
Date	Thursday, 5 November 2026
Venue	Padma Shri Dr. Ayyappan Conference Hall, NFDB, Hyderabad
Chaired by	Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj
State ministers present	Shri Vakiti Srihari (Telangana — Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries); Shri Gabriel Denwang Wangsu (Arunachal Pradesh — Fisheries); Shri Sudhangshu Das (Tripura — Fisheries)
Others present	Representatives of State/UT Fisheries Departments and 13 non-official members of the NFDB Governing Body
Headline figure	Fish production rose from 141.64 lakh tonnes (2019-20) to 197.75 lakh tonnes (2024-25)
Exports	Seafood exports valued at around ₹70,000 crore (Secretary’s figure at the meeting); precise MPEDA figure for FY 2025-26 is ₹73,890 crore

The headline number: output up 39.6% in five years

The Minister opened with the sector’s growth story, and the numbers are genuinely striking. India’s fish production has more than doubled in a decade — and the fastest gains have come in the last five years:

Indicator	Then	Now	Change
Total fish production	95.79 lakh tonnes (2013-14)	197.75 lakh tonnes (2024-25)	+106% in a decade
Total fish production	141.64 lakh tonnes (2019-20)	197.75 lakh tonnes (2024-25)	+56.11 lakh tonnes, +39.6% in five years
Inland fisheries & aquaculture	61.36 lakh tonnes (2013-14)	151.60 lakh tonnes (2024-25)	+147% — nearly 77% of all production
Seafood exports	₹46,663 crore (2019-20)	₹73,890 crore (2025-26)	+58% in six years
Seafood exports	₹30,213 crore (2013-14)	₹62,408 crore (2024-25)	More than doubled in a decade

Two things stand out. First, the growth is driven by inland fisheries and aquaculture — ponds, reservoirs and tanks — which now produce about three-fourths of India’s fish (151.60 of 197.75 lakh tonnes). That is why the meeting’s focus was on inland and North-Eastern states, not just the coast. Second, India is now the world’s second-largest fish producer, accounting for about 8% of global output. The question the meeting tried to answer is what comes next: how to turn record production into higher incomes for the people who actually farm and catch the fish.

What the Minister ordered NFDB to do

Union Minister Lalan Singh called on NFDB to strengthen its role as a proactive development institution — not a file-pushing body. His directions, as recorded in the official Press Information Bureau release of 6 November 2026, were:

Greater last-mile outreach to fish farmers — NFDB’s schemes and support must actually reach the pond, the landing centre and the village, not stop at state capitals.
Closer coordination with States and UTs — the Centre and the states must work as one system on fisheries, with NFDB as the bridge.
Timely operationalisation and completion of projects — sanctioned projects must start and finish on schedule, not drag on for years.
Effective utilisation of funds — money allocated for fisheries must be spent well and on time.
Focused support to North-Eastern and inland States — to bridge production, supply and consumption gaps and move towards self-sufficiency in fish, so landlocked states stop depending on fish trucked in from the coast.
Measurable outcomes — future NFDB interventions must be judged on results: more production, more productivity, higher incomes.

Fisheries Secretary Dr Abhilaksh Likhi added three practical pushes of his own: strengthen NFDB’s digital presence and simplify stakeholder support and feedback mechanisms to improve ease of doing business; bring in greater private investment and entrepreneurship through cooperatives, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs), start-ups and private entrepreneurs; and hold regular consultations with states and stakeholders so policies keep improving. NFDB Chief Executive Dr Bijay Kumar Behera presented an overview of the Board’s key activities, achievements and ongoing initiatives.

What the states asked for

The state fisheries ministers at the meeting did not just listen — they placed their own demands on the table. Their asks show where the next wave of fisheries infrastructure is heading:

Fish markets and Integrated Aqua Parks — continued Central support to build modern fish markets and large, integrated aquaculture parks where production, processing, cold chain and marketing sit together.
Amrit Sarovars, reservoirs and water bodies for fisheries — greater convergence between Fisheries and Rural Development programmes so that ponds, reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars are productively used for fish farming, not left idle.
Training and exposure — enhanced training and capacity building, plus inter-State and international exposure visits, for fishers, entrepreneurs, women, Self-Help Groups and officials — along with continued training of beneficiaries under PMMSY.
More fish on Indian plates — promoting fish consumption through nutrition-focused awareness initiatives, because domestic demand is the most reliable market a fish farmer can have.

None of these is a scheme you can apply for tomorrow — they are directions the Centre and states have now agreed on. But they tell a fish farmer exactly where the money and the training are going to flow: markets, aqua parks, reservoirs, and producer organisations.

What is NFDB, and why does this meeting matter?

The National Fisheries Development Board was set up in September 2006 and is based in Hyderabad. It is the central agency that implements fisheries development programmes across the country — from supporting fish farming and hatcheries to building infrastructure and promoting fish farmer producer organisations. Its Governing Body, chaired by the Union Fisheries Minister, is where the Centre and the states agree on priorities. The 13th meeting matters because it comes at a turning point: production has doubled, but the next gains must come from productivity, markets and incomes — not just more ponds.

The flagship scheme behind the growth is the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched on 10 September 2020 with an outlay of ₹20,050 crore and extended to FY 2025-26. As of 11 August 2026, fisheries and aquaculture projects worth ₹21,394.88 crore had been approved under PMMSY since 2020-21, including a Central share of ₹9,510.89 crore. Its sub-scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), runs from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 with a ₹6,000 crore outlay and focuses on formalising the sector — giving fishers a digital identity, credit access and quality-upgrade incentives.

What this means for fish farmers: 6 steps to take now

The meeting announced no new scheme and no new deadline — it was a review and direction-setting meeting, not a launch. But the directions it set point to six concrete things a fish farmer or small fisheries business should do now:

1. Register on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) — nfdp.dof.gov.in. NFDP registration is the gateway to benefits under PM-MKSSY, including the Performance Grant for fisheries enterprises. If you are not on the platform, the system cannot see you.
2. Visit your District Fisheries Office and ask about PMMSY components. PMMSY covers new ponds, cages, RAS and biofloc units, feed mills, cold storage, fish kiosks, transport vehicles and more, with 40% subsidy for general-category beneficiaries and 60% for women, SC and ST beneficiaries. Ask which components are open in your district right now.
3. Join — or form — a Fish Farmer Producer Organisation (FFPO) or cooperative. As of January 2026, 2,195 FFPOs had been formed across the country, and the meeting explicitly pushed cooperatives and FFPOs as the route to private investment, better prices and shared infrastructure. A single farmer negotiates alone; an FFPO negotiates as a business.
4. Get a Kisan Credit Card (KCC) for fisheries. KCC benefits have already reached 4.39 lakh fishers, giving working-capital credit for fish farming. Ask your bank or district fisheries office how to apply — KCCs were being distributed to fish farmers at official events as recently as this month.
5. Check your insurance cover under the Group Accident Insurance Scheme (GAIS). Enrolled fishers get ₹5 lakh for accidental death, ₹2.5 lakh for permanent disability and ₹25,000 for hospitalisation. If you fish or farm and are not enrolled, ask at the district office — it is the cheapest safety net in the sector.
6. Ask about training — and about aqua parks and markets coming to your state. PMMSY training for beneficiaries continues, and the states have now asked the Centre for more fish markets and Integrated Aqua Parks. The district fisheries office is the first place to hear when a market or park is sanctioned near you.

Honest limits — read this before you act

No new scheme or deadline was announced at this meeting. Do not expect a fresh application window from the 13th Governing Body meeting itself — it set directions for NFDB and the states. Any new window will be announced separately; check the NFDP portal and your district fisheries office.
“Around ₹70,000 crore” is a rounded figure. That is the number Fisheries Secretary Dr Likhi used at the meeting. The precise MPEDA figure for seafood exports in FY 2025-26 is ₹73,890 crore (US$ 8.46 billion), and ₹62,408 crore for FY 2024-25.
No state-wise production split was published with this release, and no project-wise fund figures were given — so none are claimed here. The 197.75 lakh tonnes figure is the official record figure for 2024-25.
Never pay anyone for enrolment in a government scheme. PMMSY, PM-MKSSY, NFDP registration, KCC and GAIS enrolment go through official portals and district fisheries offices. Anyone demanding a fee to “get you selected” is running a scam.

Frequently asked questions

What is NFDB? The National Fisheries Development Board, set up in September 2006 and based in Hyderabad. It implements fisheries development programmes across India and coordinates between the Centre and the states.

When was the 13th Governing Body meeting held? Thursday, 5 November 2026, at NFDB headquarters in Hyderabad, chaired by Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh). The official release was issued on 6 November 2026.

Did the meeting announce a new scheme or subsidy? No. It reviewed progress and set directions — last-mile outreach, timely project completion, support to North-Eastern and inland states, fish markets, Integrated Aqua Parks, and more training. No new application window or deadline was announced.

What is an Integrated Aqua Park? A large, integrated facility where fish production, processing, cold chain, value addition and marketing are developed together in one place, so farmers get better prices and buyers get steady supply. States have asked the Centre for continued support to build them.

What is an FFPO? A Fish Farmer Producer Organisation — a collective of fish farmers registered as a producer company or cooperative. FFPOs help small farmers buy inputs cheaper, sell together at better prices and access schemes. 2,195 FFPOs had been formed as of January 2026.

How do I apply for PMMSY support? Start at your District Fisheries Office and register on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (nfdp.dof.gov.in). The office can tell you which PMMSY components are open in your district and what documents you need.

Sources and official links

PIB release: Union Minister chaired the 13th Governing Body Meeting of NFDB (PRID 2333401, 6 November 2026) — pib.gov.in
IANS: Rajiv Ranjan Singh calls upon NFDB to strengthen its role as proactive development institution (6 November 2026) — ianslive.in
PIB: Fish production 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, up from 95.79 lakh tonnes in 2013-14; inland 151.60 lakh tonnes; exports ₹73,890 crore in 2025-26 (PRID 2308602) — pib.gov.in
PIB: PMMSY approved projects ₹21,394.88 crore, Central share ₹9,510.89 crore, as of 11 August 2026 (PRID 2308602) — pib.gov.in
PIB: 2,195 FFPOs as of January 2026; KCC benefits to 4.39 lakh fishers (PRID 2249228) — pib.gov.in
PMMSY official portal — pmmsy.dof.gov.in | National Fisheries Digital Platform — nfdp.dof.gov.in

Fact-check note (7 November 2026): meeting date (Thursday, 5 November 2026), venue, chair, attending ministers, directions and state asks are from the official PIB release PRID 2333401, corroborated by IANS (6 November 2026). Production figures — 141.64 lakh tonnes (2019-20) to 197.75 lakh tonnes (2024-25), 95.79 lakh tonnes (2013-14), inland 151.60 lakh tonnes, exports ₹46,663 crore (2019-20) to ₹73,890 crore (2025-26) and ₹62,408 crore (2024-25) — are from PIB releases PRID 2308602 and PRID 2221582. Growth arithmetic verified: 197.75 − 141.64 = 56.11 lakh tonnes; 56.11 ÷ 141.64 = 39.6%. NFDB established September 2006, Hyderabad; PMMSY ₹20,050 crore outlay, launched 10 September 2020, extended to FY 2025-26; PM-MKSSY ₹6,000 crore, FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27; GAIS ₹5 lakh / ₹2.5 lakh / ₹25,000 — all previously verified in this log. No new scheme, fund or deadline was announced at this meeting, and none is claimed. The featured image is an illustration of an Indian fish harbour, not a photograph of the NFDB meeting.

Fish Output Up 39.6% — NFDB’s New Plan for Fish Farmers