Historic first: MSP introduced for reservoir fish, Royalty slashed to 1 percent
3 min read
SHIMLA 12th April, 2026
• Fishermen welfare gets major push under the present regime
For the first time in the State’s history, any government has taken proactive and focused steps to uplift the fishermen community. The State Government has initiated significant and forward-looking measures to strengthen the fisheries sector and ensure improved livelihood security for fishermen across the state. In line with the Budget 2026-27 announcements of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Department of Fisheries is gearing up to implement the initiatives at the grassroots level. The measures are designed to protect reservoir fishermen from market fluctuations, ensure fair pricing for their produce and enhance their overall income. These efforts underscore the government’s firm commitment to the welfare of fishermen and the sustainable growth of the fisheries sector.
The Chief Minister has, for the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh, 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 kilogram. Additionally, if the auction price falls below Rs. 100 per kilogram, the State Government will provide a subsidy of up to Rs. 20 per kilogram through the Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism. This will ensure fair remuneration and enhance transparency, as the subsidy will be credited directly into the bank accounts of eligible fishermen.
In another major relief measure, the Chief Minister has announced a substantial reduction in the royalty rate on fish harvested from reservoirs. The State Government had earlier reduced the royalty from 15 percent to 7.5 percent and it has now been decided to further reduce the royalty rate to just 1 percent in the current financial year. 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). Silver Carp is the dominant specie in Gobind Sagar, Kol Dam, Ranjit Sagar and Chamera reservoirs, while 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 tonnes in 2022-23 to 818.02 metric tonnes in 2025-26, reflecting strong positive momentum in the sector.
These 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 continuously 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. Total fish production increased from 19,019 metric tonnes in 2024-25 to 20,005 metric tonnes 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.
