Photo Source; Babushahi Bureau
Punjab reports over 2 lakh MT fish production as state marks World Fisheries Day
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, November 21, 2025: Marking World Fisheries Day, Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian highlighted the state’s significant achievements in the fisheries sector, calling aquaculture an emerging pillar of sustainable growth and rural prosperity.
Khudian shared that Punjab’s fisheries sector has expanded rapidly, with fish farming now spread across 43,685 acres and generating an annual production of over two lakh metric tonnes.
The state’s push toward shrimp cultivation has also delivered strong results, with 1,034 acres of saline land now producing 2,759 metric tonnes of shrimp.
He said these innovations have strengthened Punjab’s aquaculture footprint and opened new income avenues for farmers.
To support this growth, the state operates 16 Government Fish Seed Farms, ensuring timely supply of quality fish seed to farmers at reasonable rates.
Khudian added that Punjab is actively promoting the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), under which subsidies ranging from 40% to 60% are being provided.
So far, subsidies worth ₹31.04 crore have been extended to 683 beneficiaries for projects such as new ponds for fish and shrimp farming, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Biofloc units, fish feed mills and transport vehicles for fish and fish products.
Greeting fish and shrimp farmers on World Fisheries Day, the minister urged them to maintain their momentum in increasing production. He reiterated that the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to strengthening aquaculture infrastructure and converting underutilised land into productive assets.
Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairying Development Department, Rahul Bhandari, also congratulated the farming community and noted that Rohu (Labeo rohita) was declared the ‘State Fish’ on October 31. He added that the Punjab Fisheries Development Board has introduced a new scheme to support fish pond construction in low-lying areas and to renovate old private ponds.