Kolkata, Sept. 20 -- A significant meeting between West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Union minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh will be held on Monday to give a major push to the state's efforts to become India's largest fish producer. West Bengal is currently the country's second-largest fish-producing state.
The meeting comes at a time when Dhirendra Krishna Shastri (popularly known as Bageshwar Baba), during a recent visit to the state, stirred a controversy by appealing to Bengalis to abstain from fish and meat during the Durga Puja festival, even as the Centre is positioning fisheries as a strategic growth sector under its Blue Economy push.
The discussions will focus on Bengal's food habits, the cultural significance of fish and the economic ecosystem built around the sector, sources said.
According to the Union fisheries ministry, Bengal produced 25.43 lakh tonnes of fish in 2025-26, making it the country's second-largest producer. The state received Rs 617 crore under various fisheries schemes, while the sector provides livelihood opportunities to more than 30 lakh fisherfolk.
The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with an overall outlay of about Rs 20,750 crore, seeks to raise productivity, modernise aquaculture, strengthen cold chains, expand processing and improve market access.
India's fish production rose from 141.64 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, while fisheries exports touched Rs 73,890 crore in 2025-26.
For Bengal, the challenge extends beyond the debate over fish consumption during the Puja period. With its ponds, rivers, wetlands and coastal waters, the state has a substantial base for aquaculture and fisheries-led economic growth.
The sector also represents a significant intersection of Bengal's food culture and economic activity, while the Centre seeks to develop fisheries into a modern value chain spanning production, technology, infrastructure, processing, finance, markets and exports.
The bigger policy question is whether Bengal can translate its large production base into higher economic growth.
Cumulative investments of Rs 39,272 crore over the past 12 years have helped increase national fish production by 106% to a record 198 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. Aquaculture, led by shrimp cultivation, accounts for around 75% of the output. India is now the world's second-largest fish and aquaculture producer.
Seafood exports have also risen 145% over the period, reaching Rs 73,890 crore in 2025-26. Despite US tariffs, exports increased by about Rs 11,000 crore in the past year.
"The government has notified Andaman and Nicobar as a 'Tuna Cluster' and plans to strengthen deep-sea fishing through cooperatives and producer organisations," an official said.
The use of technology and the setting up of smart fish harbours are also expected to be discussed at the meeting.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.