Centre, West Bengal to Review Fisheries Development Plans, Focus on Sustainable Growth
Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Suvendu Adhikari to co-chair Kolkata meeting on production, aquaculture, infrastructure and market linkages
By Suman Munshi, IBG NEWS
Kolkata, September 20, 2026: The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, is set to convene a high-level review meeting on the development of fisheries and aquaculture in West Bengal on September 21, 2026, with Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari scheduled to co-chair the meeting, according to the PIB release provided for this report.
The meeting is aimed at preparing a comprehensive roadmap to unlock West Bengal’s fisheries potential, with discussions expected to focus on increasing fish production, expanding aquaculture, strengthening market connections and developing an integrated fisheries value chain.
Focus on Fisheries Sector Expansion
The meeting will be held in the presence of Rajesh Mahata, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Department of ARD & Fisheries, Government of West Bengal.
Officials and representatives from several national and state-level institutions are expected to participate, including the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, the West Bengal Fisheries Department, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), ICAR institutions, National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), NABARD, NCDC, Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA), Export Inspection Council (EIC), Indian Coast Guard and Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
Review of Schemes and Programmes
The discussions will examine the implementation and progress of various fisheries schemes and programmes in West Bengal.
Presentations by the Centre and the state are expected to cover areas including production enhancement, aquaculture expansion, technology adoption, infrastructure development, institutional support and investment promotion.
The meeting will also include interactions with research, regulatory and financial institutions involved in the fisheries sector.
A key outcome will be the handover of Administrative Approval for Integrated Reservoir Development in West Bengal, according to the PIB release.
West Bengal’s Fisheries Potential
West Bengal is described in the release as the country’s second-largest fish-producing state, with reported fish production of 25.43 lakh tonnes during 2025–26.
The release states that an investment of approximately ₹617 crore under various schemes has supported production technologies, post-harvest infrastructure, processing and capacity-building initiatives.
These interventions, according to the government, have contributed to livelihood opportunities for more than 30 lakh people associated with fisheries while supporting the development of fisheries value chains and market access.
Push for Fisheries Clusters and Cooperatives
The Centre has also notified 34 fisheries production and processing clusters, including a dry-fish cluster in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal.
The Department of Fisheries is placing particular emphasis on strengthening Fisheries Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) and fisheries cooperatives. Digitisation of the fisheries sector is another area identified for further development.
Roadmap for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
The Kolkata meeting is expected to strengthen coordination between the Centre, West Bengal Government and stakeholder institutions to identify priority interventions for the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
The discussions are expected to address fish production and productivity, sustainable aquaculture, ornamental fisheries, post-harvest infrastructure, market linkages, technology adoption and investment across the fisheries value chain.
The broader objective outlined in the release is to improve livelihood opportunities for fishers while developing a more resilient, inclusive and globally competitive fisheries sector in West Bengal.
By Suman Munshi
IBG NEWS
Note: The rewrite above is based on the PIB text supplied in your message. My current web search did not return an independently accessible PIB result for this specific September 20, 2026 release, so I have not added or independently verified facts beyond the supplied source.
