Agribusiness Opportunities of Ornamental Fisheries in North-Eastern Region of India

The North-Eastern region produces the bulk of India’s ornamental fish exports but remains unattended for developing market opportunities. Several agribusiness opportunities can be explored through systematic collection and selling of native ornamental fish (wild catch) as well as rearing of exotic ornamental fish species (captive breeding) suitable in the region. In view of these, the present study has analysed the economic (social perspective) and financial (private perspective) viabilities of development of ornamental fisheries in the North-Eastern region. It has been concluded that the agribusiness opportunities can be realized at every stage, namely, production, marketing and conservation of ornamental fishes. The ornamental fish production in the NE region has been observed to be financially as well as economically viable and investment-friendly. With the initiatives by the government such as providing incentive to establish ornamental fish production unit, considerable private investment can be attracted to this industry, which would generate additional employment opportunities in this area. The concerted efforts of the government as well as key institutions can increase the ornamental fish production substantially in the region, which in turn, can gain a larger share in the world market. Public-private partnership can be encouraged through establishment of ornamental fish production units in different parts of the NE region to make the ornamental fishery sector more vibrant and remunerative.