For the first time, five metric tonnes of fish has been exported from Uttarakhand to Nepal. The government is now preparing to send 30 tonnes of fish to the international market.
Dehradun. For the first time after the formation of the state, fish prepared in Uttarakhand has reached the international market. Three fisheries cooperative societies of Pithoragarh district have successfully exported five metric tons of fish to Nepal with the help of the state government. With this, the state government has now started preparing to export about 30 metric tons of fish abroad.
Fisheries Development Minister Saurabh Bahuguna informed about this achievement during the press conference held at the media center located at the State Secretariat. He told that three cooperative societies of Dharchula and Munsiyari area of ​​Pithoragarh had produced these fish.
Fish from Uttarakhand reached Nepal through cold chain
The minister said that the fish were sent to Veraval in Gujarat with complete cold-chain system, where their processing was done. After this, on June 23, 2026, these fish were successfully exported to the international market of Nepal. 33 fishermen got an income of about Rs 23.50 lakh from this export, which has brought huge economic benefits to the local fishing business.
Fisheries department provided financial assistance, increased export opportunities
To make this first international export successful, the Government of Uttarakhand provided gap funding assistance of Rs 5.40 lakh through the Fisheries Department on harvesting, packaging and transportation. Saurabh Bahuguna said that this is a positive outcome of the interaction with international buyers and various stakeholders during the Gulf Food Expo held in Dubai. Now the department is also working on the possibilities of export of fishes of Uttarakhand to the countries of Europe, Middle-East and South-East Asia. Preparations are underway to export about 30 metric tons of fish to foreign countries in the coming time.
Fisheries got new direction due to the policy of Dhami government
The minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state government has taken several important steps to promote the fisheries sector. The effect of these policies is now visible on the ground. He said that an MoU was signed with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) with the aim of providing better markets to the fishermen in the year 2024. Under this, 45.10 metric tonnes of trout fish has been supplied so far, the total value of which is about Rs 2.10 crore.
Rapidly growing fishing sector in Uttarakhand
According to Saurabh Bahuguna, the scope of fisheries in the state is continuously increasing. While there were only 10,011 fish farmers till the year 2022, now their number has increased to 15,657. These also include 3,584 women fishermen. He said that between 2012 and 2017, the growth rate of fish production was only two percent, whereas during the year 2022 to 2026, it has increased to 11 percent. In the year 2026-27, 11,805 metric tonnes of fish production was recorded in the state, the estimated value of which was approximately Rs 165 crore.
Budget of Fisheries Department increased manifold, new employment opportunities created
The Fisheries Minister said that the annual budget of the department in the year 2021-22 was Rs 55.76 crore, which has been increased to Rs 261.41 crore in the year 2026-27. Self-employment opportunities have been created for 5,646 people in the fisheries sector in the last four years. 33 regular appointments have also been made in the department.
Chief Minister Matsya Sampada Yojana became a game changer
Saurabh Bahuguna said that programs like the state government’s new Trout Promotion Scheme and Mukhyamantri Matsya Sampada Yojana are proving to be game changers for the fisheries sector. He said that today fisheries has become one of the rapidly developing major sectors of the economy of Uttarakhand. This sector is playing an important role in strengthening rural livelihoods, increasing employment and increasing the income of farmers. Fisheries Department Director Chandra Singh Dharamshaktu was also present in the press conference.