India’s fisheries sector took center stage today as Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, inaugurated the Fish Tech Pavilion at World Food India 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The Pavilion, organized by the Department of Fisheries, presents a bold vision for the future of India’s Blue Economy, blending cutting-edge technology with sustainable aquaculture practices.
Joined by Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, and other senior officials, Prof. Baghel emphasized the Pavilion’s role as a global collaboration hub for fisheries innovation. “The Fish Tech Pavilion is a platform for global collaboration in fisheries innovation,” he stated, highlighting the importance of modernizing the sector to boost productivity, sustainability, and livelihoods.
The Fish Tech Pavilion presents a forward-looking vision for unlocking the vast potential of India’s Blue Economy. It features innovative and sustainable aquaculture practices such as Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Biofloc Technology, Aquaponics, Cage Culture and Seaweed Farming. These models are designed to promote climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and scalable fish farming practices that align with India’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. One of the major attractions at the Pavilion is the prototype drone developed under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). This drone is designed to transport up to 70 kilograms of fish and aquaculture products, enabling rapid and efficient movement from aggregation points to the markets. It is also intended to support surveillance and logistics in aquaculture operations, representing a significant leap towards automation in the sector. Another key technological highlight is the Vessel Communication and Support System, which enhances the safety of marine fishers by offering real-time alerts, weather updates, and vessel tracking, even in areas beyond the range of mobile networks. During Cyclone DANA, the system played a critical role by broadcasting mass alerts to fishers at sea, facilitating timely evacuation and saving lives. As part of the National Rollout Plan under PMMSY, the Government of India has approved the installation of transponders on about one lakh marine fishing vessels. These transponders are being provided free of cost to fishermen and are a crucial tool in ensuring safer and more resilient marine operations.
The Pavilion also underscores the government’s initiatives to reduce post-harvest losses and improve production quality to meet international standards. These efforts aim to boost exports, enhance incomes for fishers and fish farmers, and promote economic empowerment in coastal and inland fishing communities. To showcase the growing ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship in the fisheries sector, a total of eleven stalls has been set up, featuring a mix of private enterprises, startups, and government institutions like Jharkhand Department of Fisheries, Department of Fisheries Uttarakhand, ICAR-CIFT, NIPHAAT, ICAR-CMFRI, and ICAR-CIFA. The Pavilion also features a Live Cooking Zone, offering visitors a unique culinary experience and highlighting the rich gastronomic potential of India’s diverse fish and seafood produce. In addition, models of Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbours equipped with IoT-based systems and eco-friendly infrastructure are on display, demonstrating the future of sustainable fish landing and processing facilities in India.
Explore Cutting-Edge Innovation at the Fish Tech Pavilion
The Exhibition starts from today at B05 Pavilion, Hangar 01, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi and could be visited from 10 AM – 6 PM till 28th September 2025.
- Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) – RAS is a closed-loop fish farming system that filters and reuses water, maintaining optimal water quality through continuous filtration. It enables high-density fish farming with minimal land and water use, significantly reducing disease risks and environmental impact. Under PMMSY, 12,000 RAS units have been approved with a total investment of ₹902.97 crores, marking a major leap in modern aquaculture infrastructure.
- Biofloc Technology – Biofloc systems utilize beneficial microbes to convert organic waste into feed, improving water quality and fish health. This eco-friendly and cost-effective method is ideal for high-density farming and supports sustainable practices. PMMSY has approved 4,205 Biofloc units with an investment of ₹523.30 crores, empowering farmers with low-cost, high-efficiency solutions.
- Vessel Monitoring System (Transponders) – Leveraging space technology, the Vessel Communication and Support System ensures the safety of marine fishers by providing real-time alerts, weather updates, and location tracking—even beyond mobile coverage. During Cyclone DANA, this system played a critical role in broadcasting mass alerts, enabling timely evacuation and saving lives
- Cage Culture – Cage Culture involves rearing fish in floating enclosures within natural water bodies, optimizing space and enabling controlled farming. Supported under the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), this method allows farmers to utilize underused reservoirs and lakes, increase production, and adopt environmentally friendly practices.
- Drone Technology – Drones are being integrated into the fisheries value chain to revolutionize operations. A prototype drone under PMMSY is being developed to transport up to 70 kg of fish and shrimp, connect production centres to markets, conduct surveillance, stock assessment, and environmental monitoring, and enable automated feeding and precision fishing.
- Aquaponics – Aquaponics is an integrated system for fish and plant production, ideal for urban and resource-limited areas. It allows simultaneous cultivation of fish (e.g., Tilapia, Pangasius) and vegetables, producing up to five times more fish per year in the same area, along with a healthy crop of greens.
- Seaweed Farming – Seaweed is emerging as a versatile resource with applications in food additives, organic fertilizers, bioplastics, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. PMMSY has approved ₹195 crore for seaweed-related projects, with Lakshadweep designated as a Seaweed Cluster, promoting employment and innovation.
- Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbours – These harbours integrate smart technologies such as IoT devices, sensor networks, satellite communication, and data analytics to enhance post-harvest operations. Eco-friendly features include rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient lighting, electric-powered equipment, and waste management systems. Three pilot harbours—Vanakbara (Diu), Karaikal (Puducherry), and Jakhau (Gujarat)—have been approved under PMMSY with a total investment of Rs 369.8 crores.
