Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031 is the Strategic Action Plan for Ornamental Fisheries Development released by the Vice-President of India at Agatti, Lakshadweep, in September 2026. Prepared by the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, it aims to turn the breeding, rearing and trade of decorative fish for aquariums into an organised, globally competitive industry with standard operating procedures, biosecurity, traceability and cluster-based value chains under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
Context
- The Vice-President of India released the Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031 Strategic Action Plan during a fisheries outreach programme at Agatti, Lakshadweep.
- Lakshadweep’s coral-reef waters hold a rich diversity of marine ornamental species, which the plan seeks to breed in captivity rather than harvest from reefs.
What the Mission Is
- An initiative to develop, regulate and scale the ornamental fisheries sector – breeding, rearing and trading decorative fish for home aquariums and commercial displays.
- Implementing body: Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
- Location focus: the Lakshadweep islands, with the plan launched from Agatti island; the framework applies nationally.
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Key Features
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- Standardised value-chain SOPs: common rules for breeding, hatcheries, disease control, packaging and transport so that live fish survive the journey.
- Biosecurity and quality: quarantine and health checks to keep out diseases and invasive pathogens.
- Traceability and certification: tracking captive-bred fish to prevent illegal wild capture and protect coral reefs.
- Cluster-based value chain under PMMSY: production, logistics, processing and domestic and export markets organised in clusters.
- Livelihoods and women: training fishers, youth and women’s self-help groups in low-cost backyard ornamental fish rearing.
Why Ornamental Fisheries Matter
- The global ornamental fish trade is worth several billion dollars a year; India’s share is small although it has hundreds of native freshwater and marine ornamental species (Western Ghats, north-east, Lakshadweep, Andaman).
- Backyard breeding units need little land or capital, making the sector suitable for women and youth in coastal and rural areas.
- Captive breeding with certification protects reefs and wild stocks while opening export markets that demand traceability.
Policy Links
- PMMSY (launched 2020, Rs 20,050 crore) already funds ornamental fish rearing units, hatcheries and integrated ornamental fisheries clusters.
- Earlier initiatives included the NFDB’s ornamental fisheries programmes and the Blue Revolution scheme.
Important Facts for Examsmost asked
- Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031: strategic action plan for ornamental fisheries; released by the Vice-President at Agatti, Lakshadweep.
- Implementing body: Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
- Pillars: SOPs, biosecurity, traceability and certification, PMMSY clusters, livelihoods for women and youth.
- Linked scheme: PMMSY (2020).
FAQs
What are ornamental fisheries?
The breeding, rearing and sale of colourful fish and aquatic plants for aquariums, as distinct from food fisheries.
Why the focus on traceability?
To ensure fish sold as captive-bred are not taken from coral reefs, which international buyers and conservation rules increasingly require.
Why is this asked in NABARD and RBI exams?
Fisheries schemes, PMMSY and allied-sector livelihoods are part of the ARD and ESI syllabus.
