SILIGURI: The Fisheries Department, Government of Sikkim, organised the first two-day Sikkim Fish Festival 2025 in Siliguri on Friday. The festival commenced at a local hotel, followed by the inauguration of exhibition stalls at Vega Circle.
The programme was attended by Minister, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services and Fisheries Department, Mr Puran Kumar Gurung, and Advisor, Fisheries Department, Mr Am Prasad Sharma, as the chief guest and the guest of honour, respectively.
Also present were Advisor to Chief Minister (Press), Mr Birendra Tamling, Press Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Yougan Tamang, Chairperson, Fisheries Department, Ms Anuradha Gurung, and OSD, Fisheries Department, Mr Sanbir Limboo.
In her welcome address Secretary, Fisheries Department, Ms Roshni Rai outlined the work of the department informing that Sikkim’s Fish Festival is being held outside the State for the first time thus, underlining the State Government’s commitment in strengthening cold-water fisheries aligned with the vision of the Chief Minister in fisheries sector.
This was followed by the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and screening of documentary videos on PMMSY work, success stories of fish farmers, and features of the Mukhya Mantri Matsya Uthpadhan Yojana (MMMUY).
The chief guest then launched the Illustrations of 21 Indigenous Fish Species of Sikkim, Fish Directory, and Fish Calendar 2025.
As part of the departmental programme, the following distributions were made:
Fish feed to 100 fish farmers, supported by ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore (tokens received by District Officers)
Aquariums to 50 schools of Sikkim, supported by ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore (tokens received by respective CEOs, Education Department)
Water testing kits, fish transportation boxes, plastic crates, and hand nets to fish farmers, supported by ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore (tokens received by District Officers)
Tokens to 6 new beneficiaries under Mukhya Mantri Matsya Uthpadhan Yojana (MMMUY), Credit Cards to 6 fish farmer along with Tokens to 6 new beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) were handed out.
The Chief Minister Award for Excellence in Aquaculture was presented to the following awardees for their work:
Ms Rekha Bista, Gangtok District – Best Trout Fish Farmer
Ms Hari Maya Pradhan, Gangtok District – Best Inland Fish Farmer
Ms Songmit Lepcha, Gangtok District – Best Ornamental Fish Farmer
Mr Chhen Pintso Lepcha, Gyalshing District – Best Fisherman
Upper Sribadam Trout Rearing Cooperative Society, Soreng District – Best Cooperative Society
Mr Son Bahadur Rai, Soreng District – Best Employee (Non-Gazetted)
Citations were presented to Dr Niti Sharma, Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI, and Angela Issacs, followed by the felicitation of guests.
Delivering his address, Minister Mr Puran Kumar Gurung stated that holding the festival in Siliguri was a strategic decision to expand market access, improve visibility of Sikkim’s fisheries produce, and support interstate trade. He stated the Chief Minister’s vision of livelihood generation, youth engagement, and self-reliance, and urged the younger generation not to depend only on government jobs but to explore work in fisheries and related sectors.
He expressed gratitude to ICAR-CIFRI for technical support, acknowledged the work of fish farmers, and conveyed his greetings to the awardees. He also recognised the efforts of the Fisheries Department in strengthening cold-water fisheries through schemes such as the Mukhya Mantri Matsya Uthpadhan Yojana, in line with the Chief Minister’s vision.
In his address, Advisor Mr Am Prasad Sharma commended the initiative of holding the first Fish Festival in Siliguri and stated that the event promoted indigenous fish species, motivated farmers, and encouraged scientific aquaculture. He stated that such efforts strengthen market linkages and open new opportunities for fisheries-based livelihoods.
Following the formal session and vote of thanks, the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, and Special Guests proceeded to Vega Circle for the inauguration of the Sikkim Fish Festival 2025 exhibition stalls, where trout, indigenous fish dishes, value-added fish products, organic produce, and live demonstrations drew public participation.
The programme was also attended by Special Guests including Secretary, Agriculture Department, Mr Jigmee Dorjee Bhutia, Secretary, Protocol Home Department, Ms Benu Gurung, Secretary, Information and Public Relations Department, Ms Annapurna Alley, Secretary, Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Ms Hondala Gyaltsen, Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Ms Yangchen Doma Tamang, President, Singtam Nagar Panchayat, Mr Suresh Kumar Tamang, Chief Education Officers of the Education Department from all districts of Sikkim, officers from various departments, and representatives from KVK.
Attendees from Siliguri included Joint General Manager, SNT Siliguri, Mr Bhupendra Chettri, Joint Secretary-cum-Protocol Officer, Home Department, Ms Sharmista Pradhan, Assistant Director, Tourism Department, and Deputy Secretary, IPR Siliguri Unit, along with fish farmers from Sikkim, ICAR representatives, and beneficiaries.
- IPR Report
