Orissa's 480 km coastline is the stuff of which dreams are made of. Added to it the abundant inland water coverage makes the state a potential leader in marine and fishery products.

The State has 6,70,017 ha of fresh water area and 4,17,537 ha of brackish water area. Orissa occupies 7 th position at all India level in fish production with per capita availability of 8.35 Kg. annum.

Efforts are being made to step-up fish seeds production as well as fish production to create self employment opportunities and to increase per capita income by utilising unexploited water resources through application of new technologies and expansion of infrastructural facilities during the 10 th plan period. It is proposed to give priority to the following activities.

• Increase in production of fish seeds in private sector by 1.25 crore.
• Culture based capture in 11 reservoirs of KBK districts under RLTAP programme
• Increase of water area by 2,500 hect. under aqua-culture sector
• Development of reservoir fisheries in non-KBK districts through a suitable Reservoir Fishery Policy
• Development of fresh water prawn culture
• To provide training and extension support to fish farmers to raise their Income & Employment Oppertunity
• To provide incentives for production of fish seed and fish on commercial basis
• Enforcement of Orissa Marine Regulation Act / Rules with due care for endangered species like Olive Ridley Turtles for sustainable fisheries to improve living condition of marine fishermen with special emphasis on health, hygiene and sanitation
• Strengthening of infrastructure in inland fish marketing
• Provision of infrastructural facilities for pisciculture

Production of Fish and Crab in Orissa (In thousand MT)