Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, visited Padimuneeswarar Integrated Ornamental Fish Farm at Village Mukkampatti, Melur, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, on 12 October 2026. Madurai in Tamil Nadu has been notified as an Ornamental Fisheries Cluster under PMMSY by Government of India.

The visit aimed to assess the progress and potential of ornamental fisheries, interact with fish farmers and entrepreneurs, and further strengthen the development of the ornamental fisheries cluster.

During the interaction, the Union Secretary discussed ornamental fish varieties, broodstock and seed availability, water quality, aquatic animal health, transportation and marketing with fish farmers and entrepreneurs. He encouraged scientific breeding and rearing practices, promotion of high-value indigenous species, and collective efforts to enhance access to technology, institutional finance and markets.

Emphasising the Government’s cluster-based development approach, the Secretary stated that 34 notified fisheries clusters are being developed across the country  through coordinated interventions covering production, input supply, infrastructure, capacity building, processing, value addition, branding, logistics and market linkages. This approach aims to address value-chain gaps, enhance competitiveness and improve farmers’ incomes.

Padimuneeswarar Integrated Ornamental Fish Farm was established under PMMSY at a project cost of ₹25 lakh. The farm breeds and rears more than 30 varieties of ornamental fish, including guppy, platy, molly, swordtail, goldfish, koi carp, cichlids and fighter fish. With four production cycles annually, the unit produces approximately 2 lakh ornamental fish seeds per year and generates an estimated annual income of ₹3.75 lakh. The farm supplies ornamental fish to domestic markets in Tamil Nadu and Keralam.

 

 

Background

India’s fisheries sector has made significant progress, with fish production reaching 197.75 lakh tonnes during 2024–25. Marine product exports reached all time high to ₹73,890 crore in 2025–26, despite challenges in global trade, reflecting the sector’s growing contribution to export earnings, employment generation and the livelihoods of fishers and fish farmers

Ornamental fisheries is a specialised and high-value segment of the fisheries sector encompassing fish breeding and rearing, broodstock and seed production, live feed, aquatic plants, aquarium accessories, feed and health products, retailing, transportation and exports. India possesses rich ornamental fish biodiversity, with more than 374 indigenous freshwater ornamental fish species and over 700 indigenous marine ornamental fish species.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), 2,672 ornamental fish rearing and integrated breeding and rearing units have been approved across the country, comprising 2,465 rearing units and 207 integrated units. In addition, five freshwater ornamental fish brood banks and 144 recreational fisheries units were approved up to 2024–25, with a total approved investment of ₹230.45 crore.

As reported by ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, the Indian ornamental fish industry is estimated to be worth approximately ₹3,000 crore, including ornamental fish breeding, rearing and trade, aquarium accessories, aquatic plants and decorative products. The sector has considerable potential to support small-scale enterprises, women’s Self-Help Groups, rural youth, start-ups and other entrepreneurs because it can be undertaken with relatively limited land and water resources.

According to the latest complete annual data published by the Marine Products Export Development Authority, India exported approximately 59.73 tonnes of ornamental fish products valued at ₹16.94 crore during 2024–25. While India possesses extensive freshwater and marine ornamental fish diversity, the country has considerable scope to expand exports through commercial breeding of high-value species, promotion of indigenous varieties, improved quality assurance, certification, traceability, biosecurity and efficient live-fish logistics. 

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