Fisheries Startup Conclave 2.0 Unveils Major Initiatives to Boost Innovation and Growth

Hyderabad: The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D) organized the Fisheries Startup Conclave 2.0 in Hyderabad, aiming to foster innovation and technological advancements in the fisheries sector. The event saw the launch of new initiatives, including the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) Mobile Application and the Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge 2.0, with an earmarked fund of ₹1 crore to support innovative startups.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, while addressing the gathering, emphasized the critical role of startups in revolutionizing the fisheries industry and contributing to the Indian economy. He highlighted the government’s commitment to employment generation, particularly for youth, and encouraged startups to focus on value addition, technology-driven solutions, and deep-sea fishing enhancements. He also urged them to harness opportunities in island development for tuna fishing in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep.

A major highlight of the event was the distribution of Entrepreneur Model approvals under PMMSY to eight fisheries startups and entrepreneurs, with a total project cost of ₹33.46 crore. These pioneering ventures range from genetic improvement of fish species, sustainable shrimp farming, pathogen-free sandworm production, and development of aquaculture infrastructure.

On International Women’s Day, Minister of State Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel urged women entrepreneurs to actively participate in the fisheries startup ecosystem, reinforcing the government’s commitment to inclusive growth. Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member of NITI Aayog, stressed the need for value-added fish exports and supply chain optimization, while Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, highlighted the importance of commercializing research-driven innovations to support early-stage startups.