Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031 is a Strategic Action Plan for Ornamental Fisheries Development in India. The plan was released in Agatti, Lakshadweep, on 31 August 2026 by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan. The initiative covers scientific management, biosecurity, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance for ornamental fisheries.
Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031
Ornamental fisheries refer to the breeding, rearing, and trade of fish kept for aquariums and decorative purposes. The mission sets uniform standards for broodstock management, breeding, hatchery operations, quarantine, traceability, and international trade. The action plan is linked to the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Lakshadweep and Fisheries Potential
Lakshadweep has a lagoon area of about 4,200 square kilometres and an Exclusive Economic Zone of nearly 4 lakh square kilometres. The islands have an estimated annual fisheries potential of more than 1 lakh metric tonnes, including 94,000 tonnes of tuna. The current annual harvest from the islands is about 15,000 metric tonnes.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
Fisheries development projects worth more than ₹62 crore have been approved for Lakshadweep under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. PMMSY is a central sector scheme for fisheries development in India. It covers fish production, productivity, infrastructure, post-harvest management, and value chain development.
Important Facts for Exams
- Ornamental fisheries are associated with aquarium fish, breeding units, hatcheries, and trade in decorative fish species.
- Exclusive Economic Zone is the sea zone up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
- Biosecurity in fisheries includes disease prevention, quarantine, and control of pathogen spread in hatcheries and farms.
- Traceability in fisheries refers to the ability to track fish and fish products through the supply chain from source to sale.
India’s Fisheries Sector
India’s fish production increased from 95.7 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in recent years. India has both inland fisheries and marine fisheries, and the sector includes capture fisheries and aquaculture. Lakshadweep is one of India’s island territories with marine resources linked to tuna and lagoon-based fisheries.
