Next-gen aquaculture: RAS and Biofloc technologies reshape India’s blue economy
RAS and Biofloc technologies are transforming Indian aquaculture, with over 14,000 units approved under PMMSY and ₹4,120 crore invested to promote resource-efficient, intensive fish farming.
The adoption of RAS and Biofloc technology under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is supporting a transition towards controlled and intensive fish production.
NEW DELHI: Advanced aquaculture technologies such as Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and Biofloc are helping India move towards more intensive, resource-efficient and commercially viable fish farming, according to a PIB backgrounder.
The fisheries and aquaculture sector has become an important contributor to India’s economic growth and rural livelihoods, supporting nearly three crore fishers and fish farmers and generating employment across production, processing, marketing and exports, according to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
India is currently the world’s second-largest fish producer, accounting for around 8% of global fish production. It is also the second-largest aquaculture producer, the world’s largest producer and exporter of shrimp and the second-largest producer in capture fisheries.
Fish production more than doubles
The ministry said cumulative investments of more than ₹39,272 crore have been approved or announced since 2015 through flagship fisheries and aquaculture schemes.
The investment has supported production, infrastructure modernisation, technology adoption, market access and export competitiveness.
Annual fish production has more than doubled from 95.79 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to a record 198 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.
Inland fisheries and aquaculture have been a major driver of this growth, with production increasing 147% from 61.36 lakh tonnes to 151.60 lakh tonnes during the same period.
Seafood exports have also more than doubled, rising from ₹30,213 crore in 2013-14 to a record ₹73,890 crore in 2025-26.
RAS and Biofloc bring controlled farming
The adoption of RAS and Biofloc technology under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is supporting a transition towards controlled and intensive fish production.
RAS uses water-treatment and recirculation systems to maintain suitable conditions for fish growth, while Biofloc technology uses beneficial microorganisms to improve water quality and support fish growth.
The systems can expand aquaculture into locations where conventional fish farming may not be feasible and allow production in diverse agro-climatic conditions.
According to the PIB backgrounder, RAS can recycle up to 90-95% of water, improving resource efficiency and allowing farming units to be established closer to urban consumption centres and export hubs.
Over 14,000 RAS and Biofloc units approved
Under PMMSY, 9,467 RAS units and 4,573 Biofloc units have been approved, according to the government.
Together, the two categories account for more than 14,000 approved units, signalling an expansion of intensive aquaculture beyond traditional farming geographies.
The government has backed the technology adoption with ₹4,120 crore in investments under PMMSY.
The controlled nature of these systems can also support consistency in production, traceability and biosecurity — factors that are increasingly important for high-value and export-oriented seafood markets.
Trout, shrimp and ornamental fish among opportunities
The technologies are also enabling specialised aquaculture activities across different regions.
RAS and Biofloc systems are being adopted in cold-water fisheries clusters in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for premium-value species such as trout.
The systems are also supporting export-oriented shrimp production in saline and brackish-water environments.
Ornamental fish rearing represents another emerging application, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs in niche aquaculture markets.
AI and renewable energy could shape next phase
The government backgrounder identifies the convergence of RAS and Biofloc with digital monitoring platforms, artificial intelligence, drone-enabled services and renewable energy as an opportunity to improve operational efficiency and reduce production costs.
It also points to diversification towards high-value species including shrimp, trout, seabass, tilapia, murrel and pangasius as a route to greater value realisation and improved access to international markets.
Continuous skill development, industry partnerships and policy support are expected to be important to scaling technology-driven aquaculture.
The government sees these systems as having the potential to contribute simultaneously to food security, rural employment, seafood exports and the development of a sustainable blue economy under the Viksit Bharat vision.
