The Union Government is considering the establishment of an Integrated Aqua Park worth Rs.100 crore in Jammu & Kashmir to promote cold-water aquaculture.

The initiative falls under Phase-II of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and aims to boost fish production and support rural livelihoods in the region.

Key Highlights:

• The proposed Aqua Park will include hatcheries, feed mills, seed production units, processing centers, and market access infrastructure.
• The project is a collaboration between the Union Fisheries Ministry, NDDB, and NFDB to develop cold-water fisheries in hilly regions.
• Fish production in J&K increased from 20,000 MT in 2013–14 to 29,000 MT in 2024–25, with trout production growing by nearly 800%.
• Anantnag has been designated as a Cold-Water Fisheries Cluster, with Kulgam and Shopian as associated districts.
• The project is expected to generate rural employment, attract private investment, and enhance income for small-scale fish farmers.