Ziraat Times Team Report
New Delhi, September 7: India’s fisheries and aquaculture sector is witnessing a major technological transformation, with Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and Biofloc technology emerging as key drivers of intensive, resource-efficient and commercially viable fish farming.
The sector supports the livelihoods of nearly three crore fishers and fish farmers and has positioned India as the world’s second-largest fish producer, contributing around 8 per cent of global fish production. India is also the second-largest aquaculture producer, the largest producer and exporter of shrimp, and the second-largest producer in capture fisheries.
According to the Government of India, cumulative investments exceeding ₹39,272 crore have been approved or announced since 2015 through various flagship schemes and initiatives for the development of fisheries and aquaculture.
Can J&K take a bigger leap?
Jammu & Kashmir’s fisheries sector is already showing strong growth, with total fish production reaching 29.40 thousand tonnes in 2024–25. Trout has emerged as one of the sector’s fastest-growing segments: official figures put trout production at 2,650 tonnes in 2024–25, up from 1,663 tonnes in 2021–22.
More recent Union government figures place J&K among India’s leading trout-producing regions, with production estimated at around 3,010 tonnes, supported by more than 2,000 private trout units.
Fisheries experts in J&K believe that the wider adoption of RAS and Biofloc technologies could give this growth another significant push, particularly by allowing intensive fish farming where land, water availability or climatic conditions constrain conventional systems.
Experts believe RAS can substantially reduce water use through recirculation, while controlled production can improve survival, biosecurity and year-round output.
For J&K, these systems could help expand trout and high-value carp production, encourage more youth and private investment, and create jobs not only on farms but also in hatcheries, feed production, equipment maintenance, processing, cold chains, logistics and marketing. The potential is already visible: J&K has expanded private trout units, RAS installations and Biofloc units in recent years, while the proposed ₹100-crore Integrated Aqua Park at Anantnag could further strengthen the value chain.
At the country level, interventions have contributed to a sharp rise in fish production, which increased from 95.79 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to a record 198 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.
Inland fisheries and aquaculture have been a major contributor to this growth, with production rising by 147 per cent during the period, from 61.36 lakh tonnes to 151.60 lakh tonnes.
Seafood exports have also more than doubled, rising from ₹30,213 crore in 2013-14 to a record ₹73,890 crore in 2025-26.
The government said technology adoption, particularly under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), is helping accelerate the modernisation of aquaculture.
Under PMMSY, 9,467 RAS units and 4,573 Biofloc units have been approved, supported by investments of ₹4,120 crore.
RAS uses water treatment and recirculation systems to maintain controlled growing conditions, while Biofloc technology uses beneficial microorganisms to improve water quality and support fish growth.
RAS systems can recycle up to 90–95 per cent of water, allowing fish farming in areas where conventional aquaculture may not be feasible. The technology can also enable production units to be established closer to urban consumption centres and export hubs.
The government said the technologies are also strengthening high-value and specialised aquaculture. RAS and Biofloc systems are being adopted in cold-water fisheries clusters across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for premium-value species such as trout.
The technologies are also supporting shrimp production in saline and brackish-water systems and ornamental fish rearing, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and expanding niche aquaculture markets.
According to the government, controlled production systems can improve consistency in quality, traceability and biosecurity, which are increasingly important for accessing international seafood markets.
Looking ahead, the government said the integration of RAS and Biofloc with digital monitoring, artificial intelligence, drone-enabled services and renewable energy could further improve operational efficiency and reduce production costs.
It also highlighted diversification towards high-value species including shrimp, trout, seabass, tilapia, murrel and pangasius as an avenue for improving value realisation and strengthening India’s position in global seafood markets.
The government said continued skill development, industry partnerships and policy support would be critical to ensuring that technology-driven aquaculture contributes to food security, rural employment, seafood exports and the development of a sustainable blue economy under the Viksit Bharat vision.
