New Delhi, March 25 -- India is turning to its rivers, streams and lakes in the Himalayas and Northeast to unlock a high-value but underutilized aquaculture opportunity. With rising demand for premium fish such as Trout and Mahseer, the Centre is pushing to scale up cold-water fisheries across over 5.33 lakh sq. km of mountainous terrain.

The government has recently rolled out model guidelines to help states build region-specific policies while ensuring ecological sustainability. The aim is to boost production, improve rural incomes and tap export markets.

Mint explains what cold-water fisheries are, why they matter, and what challenges remain.

Cold-water fisheries refer to aquatic systems with low temperatures and high dissolved oxyge...