Top 10 Fish Producing States in India
India is the second largest fish-producing country in the world with 8% share in global fish production. Over the past decade, the fishing sector has grown into an essential backbone for India, providing farmers with a source of daily income while also creating new job opportunities. In this article, we’ll look at India's Top 10 fish-producing states and how they contribute to socio-economic growth on a large scale.
Table of Contents
Aquaculture in India
India's aquaculture industry has grown considerably in recent years. Currently, India is one of the world's leading fish producers and exporters. This has had a huge impact on the national economy. It has improved employment opportunities and provided benefits for those involved in the fishing industry, whether directly or indirectly.
Since India has ideal circumstances for aquaculture to flourish, including good weather, vast coastline areas, and a varied range of fish species, the fishing industry has managed to thrive in the country. Many farmers have already adopted aquaculture thanks to the government's help in the form of schemes and training.
Top 10 Fish Producing States in India
India is the second-largest fish-producing nation globally. In FY 2024-25, the average aquaculture productivity increased to 4.77 tonnes per hectare, and fish production increased to 197.75 lakh tonnes from 95.79 lakh tonnes in FY 2013-14. Let’s take a look at the top 10 fish producing states in India.
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh is India's leading fish-producing state. Its long coastline and extensive network of freshwater ponds support both marine and inland fish farming. Andhra Pradesh is also home to several fish species, including billfish (three), needlefish (three), cobia, dolphin fish, grass carp, giant catfish, and tuna. The state’s abundant fish production fulfills domestic demand and also contributes to exports.
West Bengal
West Bengal is the second-largest fish-producing state in India. The state is well-known for its fish consumption and farming. Fish is a staple food in many Bengali dishes. West Bengal is a state rich in water resources, which are great for a variety of fish cultivation. A wide variety of fish are available in the state, including Hilsa, Catla, and Rohu. West Bengal exports fish both domestically and internationally, making it an economically strong fish-producing state.
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is blessed with abundant aquatic bioresources. The state is surrounded by a huge network of rivers, irrigation canals, ponds, lakes, and floodplain wetlands. This makes it a hub for freshwater fish farming. Popular varieties of freshwater fish include rohu, catla, and mrigal. Fisheries play a key role in rural livelihoods. They are responsible for employing over 5 lakh workers in the state.
Odisha
Odisha is the 4th largest fish-producing state in India. Odisha is responsible for contributing around 6% of total fish production in India. Popular fish species include Hilsa, rohu, Catla, and a variety of prawns, which are widely consumed and exported. Fisheries are one of the main contributing factors to Odisha’s economy. For this reason, the government has initiated programs to help double the inland fishing production and also increase fishing exports. The state government has implemented many State and central schemes for employment opportunities in the fishing sector.
Gujarat
Gujarat has a 1,600 km coastline and a well-developed fishing infrastructure. For this reason, Gujarat is considered one of the key contributors to fishing production. Popular species include pomfret, hilsa, Indo-Pacific mackerel, and shrimp, which are exported globally. The total fish production of the state of Gujarat in the year 2024-25 was 10.43 lakh tonnes. The state has also received a national award for open-sea cage fish farming.
Karnataka
This state is another major contributor to India’s marine fish production. The state is well known for its rich inland water resources and for being home to a variety of local fish species like bangude, boothayi, kane, and pomfret. Fisheries in Karnataka contribute significantly to the state’s economy and the country’s fisheries sector.
If you want to learn more about these government schemes for the fishing industry, read our article - Government Schemes to Promote Fish Farming in India 2026.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is a leading fish producer in India. Most of its production comes from marine, brackish water, and inland sources. Key fish landing centers include Royapuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mandapam, and Kanyakumari. Tamil Nadu has many inland water resources. These include rivers, ponds, reservoirs, and irrigation tanks. Tamil Nadu’s diverse fisheries sector employs over a million people, making it a major contributor to the state’s economy.
Kerala
Kerala is a coastal state located on the south-west coast of India. It is surrounded by plenty of water resources, which include 44 rivers and 49 reservoirs. This makes it extremely rich in marine and inland fish production. Almost 905 species of fish are found in both inland and marine waters in Kerala.
Monsoon in Kerala is a vital time for its fisheries sector, accounting for about 13% of India's national marine fish production. Hence, to sustain this ecosystem, the state strictly enforces a 52-day monsoon trawling ban to protect marine biodiversity. This ensures there will be plenty of fish in the ocean in the future.
Bihar
Bihar is a leading inland fish-producing state in India. It ranks fourth among inland fish-producing states. The state’s water resources, including rivers, ponds, and reservoirs, are huge support systems for fish farming. Popular varieties of fish found in Bihar are Catla, Rohu, Mrigal, Magur (Catfish), Gaichi (Local Eel Species), etc. The fisheries sector plays an important role in supporting rural livelihoods and also strengthening the state economy.
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is another prominent inland fish-producing state, ranking 6th in India in Inland fish production. Between 2024-25, Chhattisgarh had a fish production of 8.73 lakh tonnes, which marked an impressive growth compared to 2007-2008 when it was just up to 1 lakh tonnes. Fisheries are an important source of income for Chhattisgarh’s population.
Total Fish Production of Top 10 States in India
Over the past decade, India’s fisheries sector has experienced phenomenal growth, with total fish production from 95.79 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.
Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh are some of the top fish-producing states in India. To know more about the production by state, here is the data from the PIB, which shows the leading fish production states in India from 2024-25:
|
Top Fish Producing States |
Total Production (in lakhs tonnes) |
|
Andhra Pradesh |
55.39 |
|
West Bengal |
23.74 |
|
Uttar Pradesh |
13.31 |
|
Odisha |
11.92 |
|
Gujarat |
10.43 |
|
Karnataka |
9.63 |
|
Tamil Nadu |
9.48 |
|
Kerala |
9.27 |
|
Bihar |
9.6 |
|
Chhattisgarh |
8.73 |
Frequently Asked Questions On Fish Producing States
1. Which Indian state has the highest production of fish in the country?
Andhra Pradesh has the highest production of fish in the country, achieving an annual production of 55.39 lakh tonnes in the year 2025.
2. Which is the largest fish farm in India?
Deoli Fish Farm in the Deoli district of Himachal Pradesh is the largest fish farm in India. It is spread over an area of 4.4 hectare that includes 14 nursery ponds and 2 big brood stock tanks.
3. Which state has the best fish in India?
Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and West Bengal are best known for their fish.
4. Which fish is in high demand in India?
Indian Major Carps (IMC), a carp species found in the Indus-Ganges River system, is a high-demand fish in India. Catla, Rohu, Mrigal are some popular IMC species.
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