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