Lucknow – The first-ever two-day Meen Mahotsav (Aqua Expo 2026), organized by the Uttar Pradesh Fisheries Department, was inaugurated today at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow. The event aims to promote fisheries as a profitable industry and encourage aqua tourism in the state.
The inauguration was graced by Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairy, and Panchayati Raj, and Dr. Sanjay Kumar Nishad, Cabinet Minister for Fisheries Development, UP. The expo brought together around 1,000 fish farmers from across the country, along with renowned scientists, entrepreneurs, and officials. 50 prominent companies participated with industrial exhibitions and stalls, showcasing advanced aquaculture techniques, equipment, and technologies.
The expo utilized banners, posters, pamphlets, brochures, LCD projectors, PowerPoint presentations, and live webcasting to connect fish farmers and entrepreneurs from all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh, creating a direct platform for knowledge exchange. A Fish Food Court and protein awareness campaign were also part of the festivities.
Speaking at the event, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel highlighted the government’s focus on improving farmers’ incomes through modern animal husbandry and fisheries. He emphasized the importance of using scientific and technological methods to make aquaculture more profitable and urged the establishment of an NFDB (National Fisheries Development Board) center in Uttar Pradesh. The minister also assured support for electricity supply to fish farmers and encouraged coordinated efforts to enhance aquaculture entrepreneurship and income.
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Nishad noted that under the leadership of CM Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has become the third-largest fish-producing state in India, with fish production doubling to 1.33 million metric tons over six years. The state has achieved an impressive 115.5% growth rate in fish output. He said the government is making ponds fish-friendly, ensuring timely allocation of water bodies, and promoting scientific and technological practices in fish farming. He added that with continued support and knowledge dissemination, UP aims to become the leading inland fisheries state by 2047.
The Meen Mahotsav 2026 also recognized outstanding contributions in the fisheries sector. Senior officials, scientists, entrepreneurs, and fish farmers participated in technical sessions covering topics such as fish seed production, catfish farming, shrimp cultivation, cage culture, and ornamental fish farming. Presentations by experts like Dr. Sanjay Srivastava (Medha Hatchery), Rajiv Ranjan Singh (RNR Aqua), Manoj Sharma, Manish Verma, and Shubham Singh highlighted innovative techniques, quality feed practices, water management, and productivity enhancement.
Alok Biswal (Deloitte) discussed the role of fisheries in achieving a $1 trillion economy and elaborated on government schemes including the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Yojana, Fisheries & Aquaculture Development Fund, KCC, and fisher accident insurance schemes, along with initiatives supporting women in aquaculture.
Rajneesh Kumar (AquaX) emphasized fisheries’ potential in protein security, employment generation, and investment opportunities, providing insights into live fish farming, feed-based aquaculture, and ornamental fish markets.
The UP Fisheries Department also announced plans to establish integrated aquaparks, three fish mandis, and the WorldFish Project Center in Gorakhpur, with allocated budgets of ₹100 crore, ₹3 crore, and ₹6 crore respectively. Additionally, pearl farming promotion has been provided with a budget of ₹3 crore.
Officials noted that the festival aims to equip fish farmers with the latest scientific techniques, improve productivity per hectare, guide multi-species breeding, and facilitate investment in aquaculture infrastructure, including hatcheries, feed production, cold chains, logistics, and ornamental fish farming.
Through such initiatives, Meen Mahotsav 2026 provides a strong platform for fish farmers, entrepreneurs, and investors, promoting modern, profitable, and self-reliant fisheries in Uttar Pradesh while boosting employment, nutrition, and aqua tourism.
