The past decade proves that evidence-based river ranching, when grounded in scientific rigour and genetic fidelity, can deliver measurable ecological recovery.

Under the government of India’s flagship Namami Gange Programme, the ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI) has executed 169 scientific river ranching programmes between 2017 and 2025. In total, 205.5 lakh seeds of native fish species have been released across ecologically sensitive stretches of the Ganga and its major tributaries, a public information bureau (PIB) report released on Wednesday said.

The initiative, which began with a high-profile event led by former union minister Uma Bharati at Barrackpore on 26 May 2017, has focused on reversing decades of decline caused by habitat loss, pollution, altered flows and overfishing.

Ranching sites were strategically chosen in states where both biodiversity and fishing-dependent livelihoods are most vulnerable: West Bengal (68 per cent of programmes), Bihar (17 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (9 per cent), Jharkhand (5 per cent) and Uttarakhand (1 per cent). The concentration in the lower Ganga basin reflects the intensity of ecological pressure and the dependence of local communities on river fisheries, the PIB release said.

Protecting Genetic Integrity with Advanced Fingerlings

Unlike conventional stocking, ICAR-CIFRI’s approach prioritises genetic purity. Fish seeds were produced from wild brooders collected directly from the Ganga, ensuring that native gene pools remain intact. Fingerlings and advanced fingerlings measuring 10–15 cm and weighing 100–120 grams were reared in controlled hatchery and nursery conditions to boost post-release survival rates.

The programme targeted a diverse portfolio of indigenous species, including Indian Major Carps (IMCs), Mahseer, native catfishes, Chitala and freshwater scampi. Special emphasis was placed on high-value and culturally significant species. In 2025, the institute achieved a breakthrough in artificial breeding of Hilsa using cryopreserved milt and wild brood females from the Hooghly estuary. This enabled the release of 3.82 lakh Hilsa adults upstream of the Farakka Barrage (of which 6,031 were tagged), along with 54.91 lakh fertilised eggs and 8.06 lakh spawn to strengthen natural populations.

Measurable Gains in Fish Landings and National Leadership

Early indicators demonstrate clear ecological and economic returns. At major riverine landing centres, Indian Major Carp catches have risen significantly: Prayagraj recorded a 24.7 per cent increase and Varanasi a 41 per cent jump. These gains are attributed to sustained ranching combined with complementary conservation measures under Namami Gange.

Beyond the Ganga, ICAR-CIFRI conducted the country’s first comprehensive scientific estimation of annual fish catches in major rivers, documenting 15,134 tonnes in the Mahanadi and 18,902 tonnes in the Krishna. The institute’s work has contributed to India emerging as the world’s top producer of inland capture fisheries, with an annual output of 1.89 million tonnes, surpassing China.

Additional milestones include the development of sustainable management protocols for four major estuaries (Hooghly-Matlah, Rushikulya, Mandovi-Zuari and Netravathi-Gurupur) and three brackishwater lakes. Reservoir fisheries productivity has improved dramatically – from 20 kg/ha/year to 150 kg/ha/year – while wetland productivity rose from 600 kg/ha/year to 1,600 kg/ha/year, leading to the formulation of national reservoir fisheries management policy guidelines in 2025.

High-level participation has amplified public awareness. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari led a ranching event at Prayagraj in November 2019, while Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur participated at Sahibganj, Jharkhand, in April 2023.

Cutting-Edge Technologies Driving Sustainable Fisheries

ICAR-CIFRI, established in March 1947 at Barrackpore, has evolved from a production-focused laboratory into a leader in ecosystem-based inland fisheries research. The institute has commercialised several breakthrough technologies, including the ICAR-CIFRI-GI model cage, HDPE circular cages (16 m diameter, 5 m depth, 1,005 m³ volume) and the CIFRI-CAGEGROW feed. These have enabled cage culture yields of 3 to 4 tonnes per 96 m³ cage using fast-growing species such as Pangasianodon hypophthalmus and Oreochromis niloticus.

Three nutritionally balanced feeds – CIFRI CAGEGROW, BSF Floating Fish Feed and RESHMEEN – along with health-care products CIFRI Fish Tanavhari and CIFRI ARGCURE, are helping reduce disease losses and improve returns. The institute has also commercialised CIFRI FRP Coracle, ornamental tanks and secured two patents: one for vertical gel electrophoresis and another for a portable split-beam transducer assembly.

Looking ahead, ICAR-CIFRI is advancing IoT-based real-time water quality monitoring (dissolved oxygen, ammonia, turbidity) and drone/ROV technologies for macrophyte mapping, fish behaviour studies and waterbody assessment. Its flagship Indian Inland Fisheries Informatics (INNF) platform integrates machine learning, geospatial analytics and Central Pollution Control Board data to create a unified web-GIS portal for nationwide aquatic suitability mapping and hypoxia risk identification.

The past decade proves that evidence-based river ranching, when grounded in scientific rigour and genetic fidelity, can deliver measurable ecological recovery. By replenishing native stocks without compromising riverine balance, ICAR-CIFRI has strengthened both biodiversity and the livelihoods of fishing communities along the Ganga.