New Delhi : Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries Animal Husbandry and Dairying, visited the Ornamental Fisheries Brood Bank established at Mangrul village in Raigad under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. The facility has been developed by entrepreneur Yashodhara Sanjay Khandagale and is regarded as the first initiative of its kind in India dedicated to ornamental fish conservation and breeding.
During the visit, the Union Secretary also interacted with beneficiaries of PMMSY to gain firsthand understanding of the challenges, gaps, and opportunities at the grassroots level within the fisheries sector.
The brood bank conserves and breeds more than 25 varieties of ornamental fish and has emerged as a model of innovation and entrepreneurship in the fisheries ecosystem. Under the brand Sam Discus, Mrs. Khandagale has established herself among the leading producers of high-quality discus fish in India.
The facility has produced nearly 7.7 lakh ornamental fish covering around 20 species, generating an estimated revenue of approximately ₹1.93 crore. It has also created direct and indirect employment opportunities for nearly 25–30 individuals. Equipped with over 700 tanks, the brood bank serves as a centre for skill development, technology adoption, and dissemination of best practices in ornamental fisheries.
Officials highlighted that the unit complies with regulatory standards and is supported under government initiatives such as GAIS and NFDP. The enterprise currently exports ornamental fish to several countries including the United States, Italy, France, Mauritius, South Korea, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, China, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, and Israel, reflecting the growing export potential of India’s ornamental fisheries sector.
India possesses immense ornamental fisheries potential, with nearly 700 indigenous freshwater species and more than 300 marine ornamental species available domestically. The country’s ornamental fisheries exports are currently estimated at around ₹41 crore, indicating the sector’s growing contribution to the national economy.
Under PMMSY, ornamental fisheries have emerged as a high-potential segment supported through targeted interventions and infrastructure development. So far, 1,986 Backyard Ornamental Fish Rearing Units, 6,018 fish kiosks and aquariums, and 117 retail markets, including specialized ornamental fish markets, have been supported nationwide. Additionally, five Freshwater Ornamental Fish Brood Banks and 199 Integrated Ornamental Fish Units have been established to strengthen production, marketing, and livelihood opportunities across the value chain.
The Department of Fisheries has also notified 34 fisheries production and processing clusters across India, including a dedicated ornamental fisheries cluster in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Maharashtra continues to play a significant role in India’s fisheries sector, supported by both marine and inland resources. With a coastline of nearly 878 km, 173 fish landing centres, and 526 fishing villages, the state supports more than 15 lakh fisherfolk and recorded fish production of approximately 5.9 lakh tonnes during 2022–23.
Officials stated that the visit would further strengthen the ornamental fisheries sector by enabling better on-ground assessment, encouraging stakeholder participation, and facilitating targeted policy support aimed at promoting sustainable growth, employment generation, and exports in the sector.