Maharashtra aquaculture receives Rs 1627 crore boost, fisheries granted agriculture status
Maharashtra’s aquaculture sector has received a significant financial and policy boost, with projects worth ₹1,627 crore approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, marking a major push toward strengthening the state’s “Blue Revolution.”
According to official data, the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has sanctioned ₹1,626.99 crore for the state over the past five years and the current fiscal. The investment is aimed at expanding sustainable aquaculture and mariculture activities, improving infrastructure, and enhancing fish production capacity.
The approved projects cover a wide range of interventions, including fish brood banks, hatcheries, inland aquaculture expansion, biofloc systems, reservoir cage culture, and seaweed farming. Thousands of cages, tanks, and aquaculture systems are being deployed to modernise production and improve efficiency across the value chain.
In a key policy move, the Maharashtra government has granted agriculture status to the fisheries sector. This step enables fish farmers to access benefits similar to traditional farmers, such as concessional electricity tariffs, institutional credit, and inclusion in welfare schemes. The move is expected to reduce operational costs and attract greater private and institutional investment into the sector.
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Officials say the combined impact of financial support and policy reforms is already visible, with aquaculture production in the state reaching around 2.7 lakh tonnes. The sector is also witnessing diversification into high-value species and emerging practices like sea cage farming and recirculatory aquaculture systems.
The initiative aligns with the Centre’s broader goal of boosting fisheries output, improving livelihoods of coastal and inland fishers, and positioning India as a global leader in aquaculture exports.
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