The Assam Fishery Department’s ambitious goal of achieving self-sufficiency in fish production by 2027 is fraught with challenges, including inadequate regulation, insufficient infrastructure, and a severe shortage of funding. Despite setting a target of 7 lakh tonnes of fish production—up from the current 4.99 lakh tonnes recorded in 2023-24—experts remain sceptical about the feasibility of reaching this milestone.
One of the most pressing issues faced by the department is the weak enforcement of fishery laws. Despite a legal prohibition on breeding and cultivating certain carnivorous fish species such as Thailand Magur, Japanese Kawai, Tilapia, and Bighead Carp, their production and sale continue unabated. These invasive species pose a significant threat to the indigenous fish populations in Assam’s rivers and beels.
A major flaw lies in the law itself, which, despite banning production, does not prohibit the sale of these species. An official from the department pointed out that this loophole has allowed illegal farming to persist. “A proper policy is needed to ban their sale as well,” the source stated.
Adding to the department’s woes is the absence of a structured price regulation system for fish. This has led to considerable instability in the local fish market, making it challenging for producers to maintain sustainable operations. Although the department had aspired to achieve self-sufficiency by 2026, the goal remains far from reach due to unfulfilled funding commitments.
The Fishery Department initially planned to secure Rs 3997 crore from multiple funding agencies to achieve its targets. However, these funds have not yet materialized, hampering critical initiatives aimed at boosting fish production.
One such initiative, the Assam Fisheries Development and Livelihood Project, was introduced in 2017 with a projected budget of Rs 3391.50 crore. The project aimed to make Assam self-sufficient in table fish production by 2021-22, with financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). However, repeated budget cuts and delays in feasibility studies forced the project to be downsized to Rs 250 crore. Of this amount, JICA is expected to contribute Rs 200 crore, but the loan sanction process is still pending.
Despite Assam’s vast potential for aquaculture, the state’s total fish production in 2023-24 stood at 4.99 lakh tonnes (473,625.06 tonnes raw and 25,374.94 tonnes dry fish), while the annual fish requirement is a staggering 5.25 lakh tonnes (525,162.35 tonnes). To bridge this gap, Assam continues to import fish from other states, with 18,240.83 tonnes of raw fish being brought in last year alone.
The state’s most significant raw fish production comes from Nagaon district, with 56,524.56 tonnes recorded in 2023-24, while Lakhimpur district led in dry fish production with 64.81 tonnes. However, the challenge of inadequate hatchery management and a shortage of quality fish seeds persists, despite combined government and private efforts yielding 20,179.56 million seeds last year.
Additionally, modern aquaculture technologies like cage culture, RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems), pen culture, and biofloc are yet to make substantial inroads in Assam. Coupled with the lack of live fish transportation and cold storage facilities, these limitations significantly hinder production and market reach.
Despite the numerous challenges, the Fishery Department remains cautiously optimistic. Officials have prepared a draft policy that is currently awaiting government approval. They believe that if comprehensive regulations and adequate funding are finally implemented, Assam could inch closer to its goal of becoming self-sufficient in fish production.