India's ornamental fisheries exports hit ₹41 crore, PMMSY drives sector growth
Synopsis
India's ornamental fisheries exports have reached ₹41 crore, with PMMSY funding nearly 2,000 backyard rearing units, five brood banks, and 117 retail markets. A single Maharashtra brood bank — India's first of its kind — has already generated ₹1.93 crore in revenue and ships to 12 countries, illustrating how a niche sector is quietly building export muscle.
Key Takeaways
India's ornamental fisheries exports are estimated at ₹41 crore , according to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying .
India has approximately 700 indigenous freshwater and over 300 marine species , supporting strong biodiversity-led export potential.
Under PMMSY , 1,986 Backyard Ornamental Fish Rearing Units , 6,018 fish kiosks , and 117 retail markets have been supported.
The ornamental fish brood bank at Mangrul Village, Raigad, Maharashtra — India's first of its kind — has produced 7.7 lakh fish across 20 species , earning ₹1.93 crore and exporting to 12 countries .
34 fisheries production and processing clusters have been notified, including an ornamental fisheries cluster in Madurai, Tamil Nadu .
Maharashtra supports over 15 lakh fisherfolk and produced 5.9 lakh tonnes of fish in 2022–23 .
India's ornamental fisheries exports are estimated at around ₹41 crore, according to an official statement released on Saturday, 9 May 2025, underscoring the sector's rising contribution to the national economy. The announcement, attributed to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, highlights how the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is transforming ornamental fisheries into a high-potential export segment backed by India's exceptional biodiversity.
India's Ornamental Fish Resource Base
India hosts approximately 700 indigenous freshwater species and over 300 marine species available domestically, representing vast untapped resource potential. This rich biodiversity, combined with growing domestic and global demand, positions India as a competitive player in the international ornamental fish trade. The sector is increasingly being viewed not merely as a hobby industry but as a structured livelihood and export opportunity.
What PMMSY Has Built on the Ground
Under the PMMSY, significant infrastructure has been put in place to support the ornamental fisheries value chain. A total of 1,986 Backyard Ornamental Fish Rearing Units, 6,018 fish kiosks and aquariums, and 117 retail markets — including dedicated ornamental fish and aquarium markets — have been supported under the scheme. Additionally, five Freshwater Ornamental Fish Brood Banks and 199 Integrated Ornamental Fish Units have been established, strengthening production, marketing, and livelihood opportunities across the country. The Department of Fisheries has also notified 34 fisheries production and processing clusters across key areas, including an Ornamental Fisheries Cluster in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Maharashtra's Pioneering Brood Bank
Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary of the Department of Fisheries, visited an Ornamental Fisheries Brood Bank at Mangrul Village in Raigad, Maharashtra, established by Yashodhara Sanjay Khandagale under the PMMSY. Described as the first initiative of its kind in India, the brood bank conserves and breeds more than 25 varieties of ornamental fish. It has produced approximately 7.7 lakh ornamental fish across 20 species, generating an estimated revenue of ₹1.93 crore and creating direct and indirect employment for around 25–30 individuals. The unit exports ornamental fish to 12 countries, including the US, Italy, France, Mauritius, South Korea, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, China, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, and Israel. During the visit, Dr. Likhi also interacted with PMMSY beneficiaries to understand gaps and challenges faced on the ground.
Maharashtra's Broader Fisheries Strength
Maharashtra provides a strong foundation for this growth. The state has a coastline of 877.97 km, 173 fish landing centres, and 526 fishing villages, supporting over 15 lakh fisherfolk. In 2022–23, the state produced approximately 5.9 lakh tonnes of fish, underscoring its dual strength in both marine and inland fisheries. This makes Maharashtra a natural hub for scaling ornamental fisheries operations.
What Comes Next
With infrastructure investments deepening and export markets diversifying, the ornamental fisheries sector is poised for further expansion. The Centre's continued focus on cluster development, brood bank networks, and retail market support under PMMSY signals a long-term policy commitment to building India's share in the global ornamental fish trade — a market increasingly driven by aquarium hobbyists and the pet industry worldwide.
Point of View
But the infrastructure being built under PMMSY — brood banks, retail clusters, integrated units — suggests the Centre is playing a longer game. What is notable is the Mangrul brood bank model: a single entrepreneur, supported by a government scheme, exporting to 12 countries and employing up to 30 people. If that model can be replicated at scale across India's 34 notified fisheries clusters, ornamental fisheries could become a meaningful foreign exchange earner. The missing piece is a credible aggregation and cold-chain mechanism to move from cottage-level exports to consistent bulk supply — something the policy has not yet fully addressed.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are India's ornamental fisheries exports worth?
India's ornamental fisheries exports are estimated at around ₹41 crore, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying released on 9 May 2025. The figure reflects the sector's growing contribution to the economy under the PMMSY framework.
What is the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)?
PMMSY is a flagship government scheme aimed at transforming India's fisheries sector through infrastructure investment, livelihood support, and value chain development. Under it, ornamental fisheries have received dedicated support including brood banks, rearing units, fish kiosks, and retail markets.
What is the ornamental fish brood bank in Maharashtra?
The brood bank at Mangrul Village in Raigad, Maharashtra, established by Yashodhara Sanjay Khandagale under PMMSY, is India's first of its kind. It conserves and breeds over 25 varieties of ornamental fish, has produced 7.7 lakh fish across 20 species, earned ₹1.93 crore in revenue, and exports to 12 countries.
Which countries does India export ornamental fish to?
India exports ornamental fish to countries including the US, Italy, France, Mauritius, South Korea, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, China, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, and Israel, based on the operations of the Mangrul brood bank in Maharashtra.
How many ornamental fish species does India have?
India hosts approximately 700 indigenous freshwater species and over 300 marine species available domestically, giving the country a significant biodiversity advantage in the global ornamental fish trade.
