Tripura Fisheries Minister Sudhangshu Das reviews six-month progress, highlighting top-performing districts Gomati, Sepahijala, and Dhalai. With 86,000 MT output so far, the state aims for self-sufficiency in fish production through PMMSY, improved monitoring, and efficient scheme implementation.
Tripura’s Fisheries Minister Sudhangshu Das on Thursday chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Fisheries Department to evaluate the progress and performance of various schemes implemented over the past six months. The meeting focused on fund utilisation, project execution, and district-level achievements, alongside ongoing efforts to enhance fish productivity across the state.
Speaking after the review, Minister Das emphasised that the government’s central objective is to ensure economic empowerment of poor and marginal fishermen through sustained development, financial aid, and large-scale productivity-boosting initiatives.
“Our priority is to make fishermen financially self-reliant”
Addressing the media, the Minister said the department’s mission remains committed to inclusive development of all fishing communities.
“The main objective of the Fisheries Department is to ensure that poor and marginal fishermen become financially self-reliant through various government schemes,” he said.
Das added that the state government is making every effort to achieve 100 percent saturation of all central flagship schemes, particularly the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), which plays a critical role in improving infrastructure, enhancing fish production, and supporting livelihood opportunities.
Unutilised waterbodies to be brought under fish cultivation
One of the key decisions highlighted in the meeting was the state’s intensified focus on bringing unused waterbodies under productive use.
“Special attention is being given to bringing unutilised waterbodies into fish production so that overall output can be increased significantly,” the Minister stated.
This includes scientific fish farming, expansion of pond-based aquaculture, and improved monitoring of waterbody usage at district and panchayat levels.
Gomati, Sepahijala, and Dhalai lead in fish production
During the review, the department presented district-wise performance updates, identifying three districts—Gomati, Sepahijala, and Dhalai—as the top performers in fish production for the current year. These districts have shown consistent growth due to efficient scheme implementation, expansion of aquaculture areas, strong cooperative participation, and better training coverage.
Das noted that efforts are being intensified to enhance production levels in other districts so that the state as a whole can meet its annual targets.
Current production stands at 86,000 MT against 1.17 lakh MT target
According to official data, Tripura’s annual fish production target for the current year is 1.17 lakh metric tonnes. At present, production has reached around 86,000 metric tonnes, showing steady progress.
However, the Minister acknowledged that the state still depends partially on external sources to meet local demand.
Goal: Reduce dependence on Bangladesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh
“At present, a small quantity of fish is being imported from Bangladesh, while states such as West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh continue to send fish to Tripura to meet consumer demand,” Das said.
He added that the government’s long-term goal is to make Tripura fully self-sufficient in fish production, thereby reducing expenditure on imports and strengthening the local fishing economy.
Monitoring to be strengthened; projects to be completed on time
The Minister instructed district officials and field-level staff to intensify monitoring efforts to ensure accountability, transparency, and efficiency.
“All ongoing projects must be completed within the stipulated time. Monitoring mechanisms must be strengthened to improve implementation efficiency and ensure timely benefits reach fishermen,” he said.
The Fisheries Department will also expand training programmes, increase distribution of fingerlings, support modern aquaculture techniques, and encourage private investment in fish processing and storage facilities.
Tripura’s vision: Becoming a model fish-producing state in the Northeast
With ambitious targets and consistent year-on-year improvements, the state government believes that Tripura is on track to emerge as a high-performing fish-producing region not only within the Northeast but also nationally.
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The Minister reiterated that achieving self-sufficiency requires coordinated efforts across districts, proper utilisation of water resources, and strict adherence to timelines under ongoing programmes.
