Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031: VP Radhakrishnan Launches Ornamental Fisheries Roadmap in Lakshadweep, Anchoring India's Blue Economy

Why in News

On 31 August 2026, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan released 'Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031' at Agatti Island, Lakshadweep. The mission is a Government of India strategic roadmap to develop the ornamental fisheries sector — the breeding, rearing, and trading of colourful decorative fish for home aquariums and commercial displays — into an organised, globally competitive industry with standardised practices in breeding, biosecurity, quality control, and trade.

Background

India is one of the world's richest countries in terms of marine biodiversity, particularly in its island territories. The ornamental fish trade is a globally growing multi-billion-dollar industry driven by rising disposable incomes, wellness culture, and the aquarium hobby. However, India's share in global ornamental fish trade is minimal compared to its biodiversity potential. Most Indian ornamental fish exports are wild-caught rather than captive-bred, creating sustainability concerns.

Lakshadweep is India's smallest union territory (32 sq km land area), comprising 36 islands, atolls, and reefs in the Arabian Sea. Its lagoon area of approximately 4,200 sq km and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of nearly 4 lakh sq km make it disproportionately rich in marine resources relative to its small land area.

Current Developments — Key Features of Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031

• Mission period: 2026–2031 (5-year roadmap).
• Focus geography: Lakshadweep as the primary pilot territory; scalable to coastal states thereafter.
• Ornamental fish species in Lakshadweep: Over 300 species of colourful ornamental fish, most found among the coral reef ecosystems.
• Standardisation: Uniform national standards for breeding facilities, biosecurity protocols, disease management, water quality parameters, packaging, and export certification.
• Objective: Transition from wild-capture to captive breeding of ornamental species to ensure sustainable harvest and higher unit value.
• Livelihood angle: Provide alternative or supplementary livelihoods for fishing communities in Lakshadweep, reducing over-dependence on tuna fishing.
• Export promotion: Build India's ornamental fish export earnings through quality certification and brand-building for Indian coral reef species.

Lakshadweep — Key Geographic and Economic Facts

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 240: The President may, by order, make regulations for the peace, progress, and good government of Union Territories including Lakshadweep. This is the primary constitutional basis for central governance over the UT.
• Article 297: Vests in the Union all resources (including marine resources) of the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, EEZ, and other maritime zones — the 4-lakh sq km EEZ of Lakshadweep legally belongs to the Union.
• Seventh Schedule, List I, Entry 57: "Fishing and fisheries beyond territorial waters" — deep-sea fisheries (including EEZ fisheries) are a Union subject. Within territorial waters, fishing is a concurrent/state subject.
• Seventh Schedule, List II, Entry 21: "Fisheries" — within territorial waters and inland, it is a State/UT subject. Lakshadweep's territorial-waters fisheries are managed by the UT Administration.
• Article 48A (DPSP): The State shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife — provides constitutional grounding for sustainable fisheries management.

Legal Framework

• Marine Fishing Regulation Acts: States and UTs have Marine Fishing Regulation Acts that govern fishing effort, gear types, and seasonal bans. Lakshadweep has its own Lakshadweep Marine Fishing Regulation Act.
• Maritime Zones of India Act, 1976: Defines India's territorial waters (12 nautical miles), Contiguous Zone (24 NM), EEZ (200 NM), and Continental Shelf — the legal basis for the 4-lakh sq km EEZ of Lakshadweep.
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Several ornamental fish species (e.g., sea horses, certain clownfish species) are listed under Schedule I; any commercial trade requires specific exemptions or captive breeding certification.
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), 2020: The flagship fisheries development scheme under which ornamental fisheries development (including Mission Rangeen Machhli's infrastructure components) would receive funding.
• Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), 2018: Long-term concessional financing for fisheries infrastructure.

Institutional Framework

• Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD): Nodal ministry for the mission. Created as a separate ministry in 2019 to give fisheries sector dedicated governance attention.
• National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB): Autonomous organisation under MoFAHD; implements fisheries development schemes and would oversee Mission Rangeen Machhli's implementation fund.
• Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA): Under Ministry of Commerce; promotes marine product exports including ornamental fish; issues quality certification for exports.
• Lakshadweep Administration (UT): The Lt. Governor-led administration; primary implementer for island-level interventions.
• CMFRI (Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute): ICAR institute headquartered in Kochi; provides scientific support for ornamental fish breeding research in Indian waters.

Economic Dimensions

• Global ornamental fish market: Valued at over $4 billion globally; growing at ~8% annually driven by Asia-Pacific demand.
• India's current share: Negligible — India is primarily a biodiversity-rich country that fails to capture commercial value from its reef species.
• Livelihood impact: Ornamental fish fetches significantly higher unit value than table fish. A 100g ornamental fish can earn 10–100 times more than 100g of edible fish, offering superior per-unit livelihoods.
• Export potential: Standardised, captive-bred Lakshadweep ornamental species could find premium markets in Europe, Japan, and the US — markets that value sustainably sourced reef fish.
• Tourism linkage: Aquarium tourism, coral reef snorkelling, and marine biodiversity experiences are growing components of Lakshadweep's premium tourism economy.
• Blue Economy: Mission Rangeen Machhli is a direct implementation of India's Blue Economy Policy (2023), which identifies ornamental fisheries as an untapped ocean-based economic opportunity.

Environmental Dimensions

• Coral reef protection: Lakshadweep's coral atolls are among India's most biodiverse and ecologically fragile ecosystems. Wild collection of ornamental species from reefs degrades reef structure. The mission's shift to captive breeding reduces wild-capture pressure.
• Climate change threat: Coral bleaching events (linked to rising sea surface temperatures) have damaged Lakshadweep reefs. A 2016 mass bleaching event affected ~95% of Lakshadweep's corals. Ornamental fish species depend on healthy coral habitats.
• SDG linkage: SDG 14 (Life Below Water) — sustainable use and conservation of marine resources. Mission Rangeen Machhli's captive-breeding focus is directly aligned.
• Biosecurity: Standardised biosecurity protocols prevent introduction of invasive species or pathogens into natural reef environments through aquaculture runoff.

Social Dimensions

• Lakshadweep's population is approximately 64,473 (Census 2011; predominantly Muslim). The community is heavily dependent on fishing for livelihoods.
• The ornamental fisheries mission provides an alternative livelihood pathway that requires lower capital and allows participation by women in breeding and rearing activities at home or in small facilities.
• The gender-inclusive design of ornamental fish rearing is a deliberate social policy — women can manage aquaculture tanks within the household, generating income without requiring sea-going labour.

Challenges

• Infrastructure deficit: Lakshadweep lacks electricity stability, reliable cold-chain logistics, and air cargo connectivity needed for live ornamental fish export.
• Species-specific breeding complexity: Many ornamental reef fish have complex breeding requirements (specific salinity, temperature, symbiotic relationships) that are difficult to replicate commercially.
• Market linkages: Small-scale Lakshadweep breeders currently have no established domestic market channels; building aggregation, packaging, and export networks requires significant investment.
• Legal complexity: Wildlife Protection Act listings for several ornamental species create regulatory friction for commercial trade — species-specific exemptions need to be streamlined.

Way Forward

• The Blue Economy Policy (2023) provides the overarching framework; Mission Rangeen Machhli should be formally integrated as a funded sub-mission of PMMSY with dedicated annual allocations for Lakshadweep.
• CMFRI should establish a dedicated Ornamental Fisheries Research Station in Lakshadweep (Kavaratti or Agatti) to provide on-site breeding research support to local communities.
• Fast-tracking a direct air cargo connection from Agatti to Kochi for live fish export is a critical infrastructure prerequisite — this can be supported under UDAN 5.0 and SAGARMALA connectivity investments.
• The Wildlife Protection Act Schedule listings for ornamental species should be reviewed in the light of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) assessments to ensure that commercially feasible captive-bred species are legally exportable.
• Develop a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Lakshadweep ornamental fish to create premium branding and price differentiation in global markets.

Possible Mains Questions

1. "India's island territories hold immense but underutilised potential for marine biodiversity-based livelihoods. Examine Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031 in the context of Blue Economy and sustainable fisheries governance." (GS-III, 250 words)
2. "Ornamental fisheries offer superior per-unit economic returns compared to traditional capture fisheries, yet remain underdeveloped in India. Identify the constraints and suggest a policy framework for their development." (GS-III, 150 words)

Possible Prelims MCQs

1. Q: Lakshadweep is administered under which constitutional provision that empowers the President to make regulations for Union Territories without legislatures?
   (A) Article 239 (B) Article 240 (C) Article 243 (D) Article 246
   Answer: B — Article 240
2. Q: With reference to India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which of the following is correct?
   (A) It extends 12 nautical miles from the baseline (B) All resources within the EEZ belong to the coastal state under Article 297 of the Constitution (C) Fishing by foreign vessels is freely permitted within India's EEZ (D) The EEZ is governed by the Territorial Waters Act, 1958
   Answer: B

FAQ

What are ornamental fish?

Ornamental fish (also called aquarium fish or decorative fish) are colourful species kept in home aquariums, ornamental ponds, or commercial displays for aesthetic purposes — not for food. Common examples include clownfish, angelfish, tangs, gobies, and many coral reef species. The global ornamental fish trade is a multi-billion-dollar industry.

Why is Lakshadweep chosen as the focus of Mission Rangeen Machhli?

Lakshadweep has over 300 ornamental fish species in its coral reef ecosystems and an EEZ of ~4 lakh sq km — one of the richest ornamental fish reservoirs relative to land area in India. Its small, close-knit fishing communities are ideal for a pilot programme that can be scaled to other coastal states.

What is the difference between EEZ and territorial waters?

Territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles (NM) from the baseline — India has full sovereignty here. The Contiguous Zone extends to 24 NM (limited jurisdiction). The EEZ extends to 200 NM — India has sovereign rights over resources (fish, minerals, energy) but not full sovereignty over navigation. Ships of all nations may pass freely through the EEZ.

Further Reading

• Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
• National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB)
• Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)
• CMFRI — Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute