India's diverse aquatic ecosystems, spanning from the Himalayan Rivers to the coastal waters of the Indian Ocean, harbours a wealth of Indigenous fish species that are integral to the country's ecological balance and cultural heritage. The promotion of these indigenous species is essential not only for the sustainability of fisheries but also for enhancing food security, supporting local economies, and conserving biodiversity. As the country seeks to address the growing demand for fish products and tackle environmental challenges, the strategic promotion of native fish species offers a pathway to achieve these goals while preserving the country's rich aquatic heritage.

Indigenous fish species, also known as native or local species, are those that have evolved and adapted to specific geographical regions and aquatic environments. In India, these species include a wide variety of freshwater, brackishwater and marine fishes, each with unique ecological roles and economic importance. Over 2800 indigenous fish and shellfish species have been identified, of which 917 species are from freshwater, 394 species are from brackishwater and  1548 species are from marine (Source: ICAR-NBFGR).

The country over these years has developed breeding and seed production technologies for over 80 commercially important fish/shellfish species. However, the aquaculture production of the country is largely contributed by a few selected species. The three major carps viz., rohu (Labeo rohita), catla (Catla catla) and mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), and the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) form the mainstay of Indian freshwater aquaculture. As a result, out of the 19.50 million tonnes of fish produced in the country from freshwater aquaculture, more than three-fourth is contributed by Indian major carps. In brackish water aquaculture, the bulk of the present production, however, is contributed by a single exotic shrimp species (Penaeus vannamei) with a small contribution by the indigenous black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Mariculture in the country is still in its infancy.

To provide a fillip to aquaculture diversification in the country a necessity is felt to prioritize potential indigenous fish species with aquaculture importance in freshwater, brackishwater, and marine environments. The following indigenous species are prioritized initially based on their economic relevance and regional importance: 1.Fringed-lipped Carp (Labeo fimbriatus), 2.Olive barb (Systomus sarana), 3. Pengba (Osteobrama belangiri), 4. Striped murrel (Channa striata), 5. Pabda (Ompok spp.), 6. Singhi (Heteropneustes fossilis), 7. Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer), 8. Pearlspot (Etroplus suratensis), 9. Pompano (Trachinotus spp.), 10. Mud crab (Scylla spp.), 11. Penaeus indicus

The above selected species are regarded as excellent candidate species for aquaculture, and their breeding, mass-scale seed production technologies and grow-out farming practices are already available. These species reflect a deep connection between communities and their aquatic environments and promote preserving cultural heritage. These species are not only culturally significant but also crucial for the sustenance of local communities, as they are highly valued in local and regional markets. They form an important part of the diet of millions of people and can contribute significantly to aquaculture production and income.

There is often a lack of awareness and technical knowledge about the benefits of promoting indigenous fish species. This gap hinders the efforts to integrate these species into aquaculture systems. Educating stakeholders and providing training on the benefits and techniques for breeding, seed production and grow-out culture practices of the indigenous species therefore is essential. As India continues to navigate the complexities of fisheries management and environmental sustainability, the promotion of these indigenous fish species offers a promising path forward. By leveraging the unique ecological, economic, and cultural values of these species, India can achieve a more balanced and sustainable approach to aquaculture and fisheries, ensuring the long-term health and prosperity of the aquatic resources.

Inland and aquaculture together contribute over 75% of India’s fish production, highlighting the dominance of farming systems over capture fisheries. Therefore, the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of India (GoI) through its existing schemes of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the new sub-scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY), and Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) is working to bridge the gap in the supply of quality and affordable seed and feed and dissemination of technical knowledge through training and workshops to the masses. The PMMSY is a comprehensive scheme designed to drive the growth and sustainability of the fisheries sector in India. Its primary objectives are to enhance aquaculture productivity, improve the livelihood of fishers, and ensure the sustainable use of aquatic resources. The scheme focuses on several key areas: expansion of aquaculture, diversification of species, and genetic improvement. These efforts are instrumental in the productive utilization of land and water resources, which are vital for the sector's growth. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through its various research institutes, conducts extensive research on indigenous fish species, including studies on their biology, breeding habits, genetic improvement programme of commercially important fish and shellfish species and habitat requirements. ICAR is also involved in efforts to conserve endangered and threatened indigenous fish species by developing and implementing strategies for habitat protection, breeding programs, and genetic conservation.

The DoF, GoI in consultation with ICAR has selected few indigenous species for genetic improvement and extended financial support to Fisheries Institutes of ICAR in order to produce quality and high health seed. The Species selected are (i) Scampi, (ii). Rohu, (iii) Catla, (iv) Murrel, (v) P. indicus, (vi) P. monodon, (v) Indian Pompano. Besides, the Department has also approved under PMMSY for establishment of Nucleus Breeding Centre (NBC) for freshwater aquaculture species in ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar and for marine species in Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), Mandapam

The DoF, GoI has also notified production and processing cluster of indigenous species based on the regional importance with an objective to increase production, strengthening value chain, reduce post-harvest loss, employment to rural women and youth. A total of 34 cluster notified which includes development of production and processing cluster in NER states, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Andman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep etc. The cluster intents to promote indigenous species are: (i) Scampi cluster in Odiasha, (ii) Murrel cluster in Telangana, (iii) Pabda cluster in Tripura, (iv) Pengba Cluster in Manipur, (v) Trout cluster in Jammu and Kashmir, (vi) Trout cluster in Ladakh, (vii) Pearl Spot Cluster in Kerala, (viii) Promotion of Marine indigenous species through cage culture in Karnataka, (ix) Ornamental Fisheries cluster in Madurai. 

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