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Maharashtra aquaculture receives Rs 1,627 crore boost, fisheries granted agriculture status
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Friday, 20 March, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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In a major push for the "Blue Revolution," the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying has approved projects worth Rs 1,626.99 crore for Maharashtra over the last five years and the current fiscal year. This funding, sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), aims to transform the state into a powerhouse for sustainable aquaculture and mariculture.
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (alias Lalan Singh) informed the Lok Sabha recently that the approved projects include a wide array of modern infrastructure, such as 10 fish brood banks, 32 hatcheries, 541 Re-circulatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), and over 17,000 cages in reservoirs. The expansion also covers innovative techniques like biofloc fish culture and seaweed cultivation.
A significant milestone for the state's fishing community is the recent decision by the Government of Maharashtra to grant "agriculture equivalent status" to the fisheries sector. Effective from May 9, 2025, this resolution ensures that fish farmers can now avail of concessional electricity tariffs and other benefits previously reserved for traditional agriculture. This move addresses one of the major industry hurdles: high operational costs.
Maharashtra has already reported an aquaculture production of 2.70 lakh tonnes. While carps and catfishes dominate the output at 2.69 lakh tonnes, the state is making inroads into high-value species like L. vannamei and P. monodon (shrimp). The state government also approved its Mariculture Policy in 2023 to further regulate and promote sea-based farming.
To tackle challenges such as seed quality and cold chain gaps, the Ministry is focusing on establishing ice plants, cold storages, and state-of-the-art fish markets. Complementing the Central schemes, the state has also launched the ‘Chief Minister Matsya Sampada Yojana’ for holistic development. These coordinated efforts by the Centre and State are expected to significantly enhance farmer incomes and ensure long-term food security through aquaculture.
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