Kashmir: Centre Releases Model Guidelines for Cold-Water Fisheries; Rs 100-crore Aqua Park Sanctioned for Anantnag | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Union Government on Saturday released Model Guidelines for the Development of Cold-Water Fisheries and announced the sanction of a Rs 100-crore Integrated Aqua Park project in Anantnag district, aimed at strengthening aquaculture infrastructure and expanding trout production in Jammu and Kashmir.

The announcements were made by Rajiv Ranjan Singh during the National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries held at the Sher‑e‑Kashmir International Conference Centre.

The conference was attended by Manoj Sinha, Omar Abdullah, S. P. Singh Baghel and Javid Ahmad Dar, among others.

According to officials, the Integrated Aqua Park in Anantnag will create modern aquaculture infrastructure, promote cold-water fisheries, increase fish production and generate employment opportunities in the region.

The Union Minister, along with the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister, also presented awards to fisheries cooperatives, progressive fish farmers, start-ups and beneficiaries of various government schemes from across Jammu and Kashmir.

Among the awardees in the Best Fisheries Cooperative Society category were Jehlum Fisherman Cooperative Ltd, Mahrajpora Sopore; Affarwat Trout Fish Farmers Cooperative Ltd, Tangmarg; and Bandi Trout Fish Cooperative Ltd, Kupwara, for strengthening collective fish farming and value-chain development.

In the Progressive Cold-Water Fish Farmers category, awards were presented to Shakeel Mohammad Teeli of Anantnag, Mehjoor Sultan Mir of Kupwara, Umer Akbar Dar of Pulwama, Zaid Ul Ahad of Srinagar and Sara Bano of Srinagar for their contributions to sustainable trout farming.

Beneficiaries under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme were also honoured for adopting scientific and credit-enabled aquaculture practices.

Several fisheries start-ups were recognised for enterprise development across the value chain, including Sheeshang Trouts (Anantnag), Springvalley Feed Mill (Srinagar), Fisheries Paradise (Samba), Rakesh Biofloc (Jammu), Kashmir Trout (Srinagar) and Raina Trout Farm (Ganderbal). Sara Bano of Srinagar also received approval for establishing a new Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) unit under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).

As part of efforts to strengthen post-harvest handling and market access, refrigerated vehicles and three-wheeler transport units were distributed to several fish farmers and entrepreneurs across the Union Territory.

The dignitaries also jointly released Model Guidelines for Reservoir Fisheries and Aquaculture Management, which provide a framework for scientific seed stocking, cage- and pen-based aquaculture, governance mechanisms, biodiversity conservation, value-chain development and monitoring systems.

Addressing the conference, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the Integrated Aqua Park would act as a major catalyst for fisheries development in the region. He said the Himalayan region has emerged as a natural hub for cold-water fisheries and highlighted interventions in broodstock development, hatcheries, feed mills and RAS units.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh emphasised scaling up trout production and strengthening the incomes of fish farmers through improved productivity, value addition and access to export markets. He also urged states and Union Territories to organise fish farmers into cooperatives and Fisheries Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) to improve access to schemes and credit.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stressed the need to sustainably harness Jammu and Kashmir’s cold-water resources and promote modern aquaculture technologies while safeguarding ecological balance.

Agriculture Production Minister Javid Ahmad Dar said Jammu and Kashmir currently contributes nearly 90 per cent of India’s trout production, with districts such as Ganderbal and Anantnag emerging as major centres of trout farming.

Officials said the conference drew more than 10,000 participants in hybrid mode, including representatives from central ministries, fisheries institutions, research bodies, start-ups, cooperatives and progressive fish farmers from across the country.