Bhubaneswar: Odisha has set an ambitious target of nearly tripling its fish production by 2036, while promoting deep-sea fishing to reduce pressure on coastal marine resources, Siddhartha Das, Director of the Department of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, said at the Earth Again Conference 2026, organised by Sambad at Utkal University in Bhubaneswar.

Das said Odisha exported fish and shrimp worth around Rs 5,400 crore last year, with the growth rate exceeding the national average.

He said the state government has prepared a Vision Document for 2036, when Odisha will complete 100 years of its formation.

According to Das, Odisha currently produces around 12.7 lakh metric tonnes of fish annually. The government aims to increase this to 35 lakh metric tonnes by 2036, which would be nearly three times the present level.

He also highlighted the need to reduce pressure on the marine ecosystem. Fishermen generally operate within 12 nautical miles of the coastline, which has increased pressure on marine resources in coastal waters, said Das.

To address this challenge, the state government has launched a 'Deep Sea Mission' to encourage fishermen to venture into deeper waters and undertake fishing in a safer and more sustainable manner.

Das said the initiative is aimed at expanding fishing opportunities while helping reduce the pressure on near-shore marine resources.