National Cold Water Fisheries Conference in Srinagar Tomorrow | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, will organise the National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries at the Sher‑e‑Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Srinagar, on March 14, 2026.

The event will be held under the guidance of Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Panchayati Raj, in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah, and other dignitaries including Prof SP Singh Baghel, George Kurian, and JK Minister Shri Javid Ahmad Dar.

The conference, the first of its kind at the national level, aims to promote sustainable growth of India’s Cold Water fisheries, particularly in high-altitude regions such as Jammu Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and select zones in the peninsular highlands. These regions collectively span over 5.33 lakh sq km and host more than 278 cold water fish species, offering significant potential for livelihoods, nutrition security, and biodiversity conservation.

Under the **Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the Government of India has allocated Rs 2,299.56 crore to modernise infrastructure, expand hatcheries, improve seed and feed systems, and strengthen transport and cold-chain networks in cold water states. The initiatives aim to establish a technology-driven aquaculture ecosystem while providing livelihood support to mountain communities.

During the conference, Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh will release the “Model Guidelines for the Development of Cold Water Fisheries”, distribute scheme benefits under PM‑MKSSY and Kisan Credit Cards, and award the best fisheries start-ups and FFPOs from Jammu Kashmir. Technical sessions will focus on research, technology adoption, infrastructure expansion, institutional convergence, and entrepreneurship development.

India’s premium cold water species, including Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Mahseer, represent a high-value segment, with trout production having grown nearly 1.8 times over the past decade. However, imports of salmon and premium trout continue, highlighting the need to expand domestic production. The Government’s National Vision for Cold Water Fisheries 2030 aims to double production and generate additional livelihood opportunities.

The conference will bring together policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders from cold water states, including Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala, to foster collaboration and accelerate sectoral development.

Over the past decade, India has invested Rs 39,272 crore in national fisheries programmes, including PMMSY, FIDF, and PMMKSSY. Projects worth Rs 34,266 crore have been approved, establishing 5,600 raceways, 54 hatcheries, 5,600 trout rearing units, 293 cold storages, 8,044 transport vehicles, and 260 feed mills, directly benefiting fish farmers in high-altitude regions.

The Department of Fisheries has also developed Integrated Aqua Parks (IAPs) and cold water clusters, with Anantnag in JK, Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, and Kullu in Himachal Pradesh designated as lead districts. Drone technology is being piloted to enhance supply chain logistics, reduce spoilage, and improve market access in remote areas.

The conference is expected to serve as a strategic platform for policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and roadmap development, aimed at strengthening cold water fisheries, improving livelihoods, and enhancing nutritional security in India’s mountainous regions.