Lok Sabha Question No. 1278 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-11
Subject: Fish Market
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Konda Vishweshwar Reddy

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1278 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH   FEBRUARY, 2025

## Fish Market

## 1278. Shri Konda Vishweshwar Reddy:

Will  the  Minister  of  FISHERIES,  ANIMAL  HUSBANDRY  AND  DAIRYING  be pleased to state: (a)  the  estimated  size  of  the  aquarium  and ornamental fish  market  in  the  country, including its economic contribution; (b)  the  total  value  of  imports  and  exports  of  aquariums,  aquarium  equipment, ornamental fish aquatic plants and aquarium decorations during the last three years, year-wise, (c)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  promote  the  aquarium  and

- ornamental fish industry in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, including any schemes, subsidies, or initiatives to support breeders, exporters, and entrepreneurs in this sector, and
- (e)  the  measures  being  taken  to  encourage  sustainable  practices  and  ensure compliance  with  biodiversity  and  environmental  regulations  in  the  ornamental  fish industry?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

- (a):  ICAR-Central  Institute  of  Freshwater  Aquaculture  (CIFA),  Bhubaneswar  has reported that Indian ornamental fish industry is valued at approximately Rs.3,000 crore which includes breeding, rearing, trade of ornamental fishes, aquarium accessories, aquatic  plants,  and  decorative  items,  contributing  significantly  to  employment  and entrepreneurship. (b): As reported by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) and Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA), the total value of Exports and Imports of Ornamental Fish & Aquatic Plants during the last three years
- is furnished as below:

|        |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |
|--------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Export |    250.05 |    303.68 |   241.281 |
| Import |     32.18 |     13.63 |    15.04  |

(Rupees in Crore)

(c) and (d): The Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of India (GoI) has taken various steps to promote ornamental fisheries in the country. Under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), 2465 unit of Ornamental fish rearing units, 207 Integrated Ornamental fish  (breeding and rearing) units, 5 fresh water Ornamental Fish Brood Bank units and 144 units of Promotion of Recreational Fisheries have been approved at a total cost of Rs.230.45 crore during the last four financial years (202021 to 2023-24) and current financial year (2024-25). The DoF, GoI has also notified Madurai District  of  Tamil  Nadu  as  the  Ornamental fisheries  cluster  under  PMMSY during 2024-25.

(e): The Department Fisheries, Government of India has issued a Sanitary Protocol for the Import of Ornamental Fishes into India in 2017 to regulate the import of various ornamental fish species and ensure the production of seeds and export to different countries  without  harming  the  environment.  The  ICAR-CIFA  has  reported  that  the breeding techniques for 16 indigenous ornamental fish species have been successfully standardized  from various regions across India. This initiative aims to promote  captive  breeding,  reduce  pressure  on  wild  fish  populations,  and  support sustainable  aquaculture  development  in  the  ornamental  fisheries  sector.  These advancements also contribute to enhancing domestic production, increasing export potential, and encouraging the conservation of native fish biodiversity.

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