Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Friday inked a significant agreement with the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) to initiate dedicated research aimed at conserving and boosting the population of the state fish, the Mahanadi Mahaseer.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was formalised in Bhubaneswar during the state-level observance of World Fisheries Day, in the presence of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik.
According to Principal Secretary of the department, Suresh Kumar Vashistha, the state government will provide ₹5 crore to CIFA over the next five years to support scientific studies and conservation-oriented interventions for the species.
CIFA Director Pramoda Kumar Sahoo highlighted that the Mahanadi Mahaseer—a prized sports fish native to fast-flowing, cold-water ecosystems—is witnessing a steady decline due to various ecological and anthropogenic pressures. He said CIFA’s focus will be on developing quality seed stocks and restocking them in natural habitats to restore the species’ population.
Underscoring Odisha’s strong prospects in fisheries, Minister Mallik noted the state’s diverse aquatic resources, which include a 574.7 km coastline, 4.18 lakh hectares of brackish water area, and 7.12 lakh hectares of freshwater spread across rivers, reservoirs and ponds.
Marking the occasion, the minister also inaugurated six new fisheries-related infrastructure projects worth ₹53.61 crore.
Odisha registered a fish production of 11.92 lakh metric tonnes in 2024–25, placing the state fourth in the country in overall output.
