Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, outlined an ambitious fisheries expansion plan for Odisha, announcing targets to scale shrimp production from 1.6 lakh metric tonnes to 9 lakh metric tonnes, generate approximately 2.5 lakh new livelihoods, and strengthen the state's coastal economy through increased exports.

Context

Posting in Odia on X, CM Majhi stated: 'ଆତ୍ମନିର୍ଭର ମତ୍ସ୍ୟ କ୍ଷେତ୍ର, ସଶକ୍ତ ଉପକୂଳ ଅର୍ଥନୀତି' — 'a self-reliant fisheries sector, a strengthened coastal economy' — framing the push as part of building a 'prosperous blue economy' for the state. He added that the initiative would not only raise the income of fisherfolk and coastal residents but also give 'new momentum to exports' and make Odisha's economy 'more empowered.'

The announcement comes as Odisha, with its roughly 480-kilometre coastline, positions itself as a major player in India's national blue economy strategy, which prioritises sustainable use of ocean resources for growth and employment.

Policy Backdrop

The Centre's Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched in 2020 with an outlay of Rs 20,050 crore, provides the primary policy scaffolding for such state-level targets. The scheme aimed to raise national fish production to 22 million tonnes by 2024-25 and double seafood exports, with coastal states expected to anchor that growth through brackish-water aquaculture and shrimp clusters.

Odisha's own fisheries action plans, dating to its 2019-20 state budget, had already emphasised brackish-water aquaculture along the coast. The National Fisheries Policy 2020 further set targets for sustainable marine resource use and integration of coastal states into global export value chains. Infrastructure investments under the Sagarmala programme since 2015 have supported quality certification and cold-chain development critical to export competitiveness.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of the plan are Odisha's fishing communities, coastal farmers engaged in shrimp aquaculture, and seafood exporters who depend on consistent, high-volume supply for international contracts. A jump from 1.6 lakh to 9 lakh metric tonnes of shrimp production would represent a more than fivefold increase, placing Odisha alongside Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal as a top-tier shrimp-producing state in India.

The projected creation of 2.5 lakh new livelihoods would directly address employment in coastal districts where fishing remains the primary occupation. Expanded exports would also improve foreign exchange earnings and support downstream processing industries including packaging, cold storage, and logistics.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the rollout of new shrimp hatcheries and processing units under the state fisheries department's annual plans, as well as the release of updated marine export figures that would establish a measurable baseline against which these targets can be tracked. Odisha's ability to attract private investment into aquaculture infrastructure and secure quality certifications for export markets will be critical to translating these stated goals into verifiable outcomes.

If sustained, the blue economy push could redefine Odisha's economic identity — shifting it from a state known primarily for mining and heavy industry to one where the Bay of Bengal coastline drives a significant share of rural income and export revenue.