Vice President C P Radhakrishnan to Launch Strategic Ornamental Fisheries Plan in Lakshadweep

Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan will release a strategic action plan for the ornamental fisheries sector on Monday, as the government pushes to expand fish farming and exports from the Lakshadweep islands.

The plan, called 'Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031', will set uniform rules for breeding, biosecurity, quality control, and trade across India's ornamental fish industry, according to a statement issued by the fisheries ministry.

The launch event, scheduled to take place in Agatti, will be attended by Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, junior minister S P Singh Baghel, and Lakshadweep administrator Praful Khoda Patel. Local fish farmers, fishers, and various government officials are also expected to participate in the proceedings.

Data shared by the ministry indicates that India possesses a coastline of approximately 11,099 kilometres and an exclusive economic zone of roughly 2.4 million square kilometres. The country's marine fisheries potential is estimated at 5.86 million tonnes. The wider sector currently supports about 5 million fishers and generated seafood exports valued at ₹73,890 crore in the fiscal year that concluded in March.

Lakshadweep, a Union territory situated in the Arabian Sea, commands an exclusive economic zone of nearly 400,000 square kilometres, accounting for about 17 percent of India's total. The territory has been officially designated as a seaweed cluster under the government's broader fisheries development strategy.

In addition to its established reputation for tuna species such as yellowfin and skipjack, the ministry noted that the islands hold strong potential for mariculture and ornamental fish exports.

Currently, the majority of Indian fishing activity remains concentrated within 40 to 50 nautical miles of the coastline. To address this limitation, the government issued guidelines last year permitting Indian-flagged vessels to conduct fishing operations in high-seas waters beyond national jurisdiction, specifically targeting high-value species like tuna.

"The formal rollout of 'Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031' highlights the growing focus on structured development within niche segments of the Indian agribusiness sector. By introducing uniform standards for breeding, biosecurity, and quality control, the government is laying the groundwork for scalable commercial operations. For entrepreneurs and stakeholders looking at coastal and marine economies, this regulatory clarity offers a predictable framework to build export-oriented ventures in ornamental fisheries and mariculture." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes