India's Cold Water Fisheries Emerging as a Key Pillar of the Blue Economy

📌 Summary:

• India's cold-water fisheries sector is emerging as a key pillar of the Blue Economy by generating livelihoods, improving nutrition, promoting eco-tourism and supporting sustainable mountain development

• Cold-water fisheries are practised in snow-fed rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs at temperatures of 5°C–25°C; key species include rainbow trout, golden mahseer and snow trout, farmed using hatcheries, raceways, RAS and biofloc systems

• The sector spans J&K, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the North-East, plus hill districts of West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu; India has identified over 278 cold-water fish species

• India's total fish production was about 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25; cold-water fisheries contribute nearly 3% of inland production (about 7,000 MT), with trout production up 1.8 times in a decade to about 6,000 MT

• J&K is the leading trout producer (about 3,010 MT); 23.51 lakh families have received livelihood support and 33.78 lakh fishers are covered under insurance

• Key funding: Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) approved about ₹21,963 crore nationally (2020-26, including about ₹5,638 crore for cold-water states); the FIDF approved about ₹7,761 crore; PM-MKSSY (₹6,000 crore outlay) supports aquaculture insurance and startups

• Integrated Aqua Parks (Anantnag, Udham Singh Nagar, Ziro, Mokokchung) and four Cold Water Fisheries Clusters (Anantnag, Pithoragarh, Kullu, Kargil) have been established

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 (Indian Economy) — animal husbandry and fisheries, the Blue Economy, rural livelihoods and sustainable mountain development.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• India's total fish production in 2024-25 was about 197.75 lakh tonnes; cold-water fisheries contributed about 7,000 MT (nearly 3% of inland production)

• Cold-water species include rainbow trout, golden mahseer and snow trout; over 278 species have been identified

• Schemes cited: PMMSY, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), PM-MKSSY and the Blue Revolution Scheme

🔑 Key Term: Blue Economy — the sustainable use of aquatic and marine resources for economic growth, livelihoods and employment while preserving ecosystem health.