Emphasis on international fisheries investment and exports at Bhopal Conclave

The ‘Fisheries Investors and Exporters Conclave 2026’ will be held in Bhopal on 23 October 2026, organized by the Fisheries Department of the Madhya Pradesh Government and the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India. The objective of the conclave is to link international fish production with investment, processing, cold-chain infrastructure, value addition, and export markets. By shifting from a production-centric approach to an integrated value-chain model, focus will also be placed on improving market access and returns for fishermen and fish farmers.

The conclave will see participation from investors, exporters, fishermen, more than 1,000 fish farmers from various parts of Madhya Pradesh, cooperative societies, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs), entrepreneurs, start-ups, processors, financial institutions, research institutions, and other stakeholders. In addition to connecting interstate fisheries with the investment and export system, discussions will be held on entrepreneurship development, financial assistance, market linkages, and collaboration opportunities within the value chain.

The ‘Madhya Pradesh Fisheries Investment and Export Guidelines, 2026’ will be released at the conclave. The Centre has notified Madhya Pradesh as a ‘Reservoir Fisheries Cluster’. The guidelines aim to facilitate investment in sectors including hatcheries, fish seed and feed, reservoir and cage fisheries, aquatic animal health, processing, cold-chain infrastructure, logistics, value addition, and market development.

The programme will also include the release of Standard Operating Procedures regarding the export capacity of interstate regions and the virtual inauguration of integrated cage culture units. Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, will present administrative approvals for the integrated development of reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars in Madhya Pradesh.

In 2024-25, India's fish production was 197.75 lakh tonnes, of which the share of interstate fisheries was 151.60 lakh tonnes—nearly three-quarters of the country's total production. In 2025-26, the value of India's seafood exports was ₹73,890 crore. Madhya Pradesh possesses approximately 4.50 lakh hectares of water area. The conclave will attempt to link the state's production base with investment, processing, value addition, and local as well as export markets.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav; Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh; Union Minister of State Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel; and Madhya Pradesh Government Minister for Fisheries Welfare and Fisheries Development Narayan Singh Pawar will be present at the conclave. According to the organisers, through discussions and investment, an attempt will be made to strengthen opportunities for entrepreneurs, exporters, fishermen, and fish farmers by promoting a competitive, market-oriented value chain.