Shimla, April 12 (IANS) To protect reservoir fishermen from market fluctuations, the Himachal Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, for the first time, has announced a minimum support price (MSP) for fish harvested from reservoirs.

This step aims to protect fishermen from unpredictable price variations and provide assured income support. The composite MSP for reservoir fish has been fixed at Rs 100 per kg. Additionally, if the auction price falls below Rs 100 per kg, the government will provide a subsidy of up to Rs 20 per kg through the direct benefit transfer mechanism, an official statement said on Sunday.

This will ensure fair remuneration and enhance transparency, as the subsidy will be credited directly into the bank accounts of eligible fishermen, it said.

In another major relief measure, the Chief Minister has announced a substantial reduction in the royalty rate on fish harvested from reservoirs.

The government had earlier reduced the royalty from 15 per cent to 7.5 per cent, and it has now been decided to further reduce the royalty rate to just one per cent in this fiscal. This decision is expected to directly benefit over 6,000 reservoir fishermen by reducing their financial burden and significantly increasing their net income.

Himachal Pradesh has five major reservoirs — Gobind Sagar (Bilaspur and Una), Pong Dam (Kangra), Ranjit Sagar and Chamera (Chamba), and Kol Dam (Bilaspur). The silver carp is the dominant species in Gobind Sagar, Kol Dam, Ranjit Sagar and Chamera reservoirs, while the singhara predominates in Pong Dam.

Other important species include rohu, catla, mrigal, common carp and grass carp. Owing to focused policy interventions and sustained efforts, such as the annual stocking of advanced fingerlings (70-100 mm), reservoir fish production has shown substantial improvement. Production from reservoirs has increased from 549.35 metric tons in 2022-23 to 818.02 metric tons in 2025-26, reflecting strong positive momentum in the sector.

The government believes such progressive policy measures are expected to significantly strengthen the reservoir fisheries economy, promote sustainable fishing practices and enhance the participation of fishing communities in reservoir-based activities. The government is also working to expand fisheries infrastructure, improve marketing systems and create better livelihood opportunities for fishermen and fish farmers.

The state has also recorded notable growth in overall fish production. The total fish production increased from 19,019 metric tons in 2024-25 to 20,005 metric tons in 2025-26, underscoring the positive impact of ongoing development initiatives in the fisheries sector. This growth highlights the increasing contribution of fisheries to rural employment and the state’s economy.

–IANS

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