Bhubaneswar: Secretary, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department, Shri Prem Chandra Chaudhury, said with State Government bringing in regulatory reform in Fisheries sector,it will strengthen the administrative structure and the newly restructured cadre will regulate recruitment, seniority, and service conditions for officers within the department.
Odisha Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has officially approved the Odisha Fisheries Service Recruitment and Conditions of Service Rules, 2026, during a meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan on 14 July.
Under the newly approved rules, the number of sanctioned posts within the Odisha Fisheries Service cadre has been increased from 617 to 835. Secretary Shri Chaudhury indicated that this expansion is designed to address a growing workload in the fisheries sector, creating more employment opportunities and placing more technical and administrative personnel at the grassroots level. The new administrative framework also establishes clear and streamlined guidelines for promotions, ensuring smoother career progression for officers in the cadre.
The restructuring aligns with Odisha’s broader development vision for 2036, which aims to give the state a stronger position in fish production and seafood exports. The state government has set a target to achieve a total annual fish production of 33 lakh metric tonnes by the year 2036. Alongside this production milestone, Odisha aims to scale its seafood exports to reach a target of 25,000 crore rupees.
This regulatory reform is expected to strengthen administrative capacity to implement major sector initiatives, including deep-sea fishing and marine export programs, while supporting the livelihoods of rural and coastal fishing communities across the state.