Himachal Pradesh has vast scope for fish production. Five main rivers and a number of rivulets along with innumerable small khads and ponds are producing thousands of metric tonnes of different varieties of fish, which on the one hand is strengthening the economy of the state and on the other is supplementing the income of those engaged in fish production. State Government has also accorded added priority to fish production by giving a number of incentives to the fishermen.

District Bilaspur is at the forefront in fish production in the State where individual and collective efforts have resulted in enhanced fish production.

Gobind Sagar is the biggest source of fish production.  To boost fish production, the State Government has established Fish Cooperative Societies in Bhakhra area. Bhakhra, Dohak, Jaishree and Kosarian Fish Cooperative Societies are working in the area and almost every fisherman of the area has been associated with these societies.

The State Fisheries Department collects Rs. 50 as license fee per year from every fisherman. Department provides subsidy to the fishermen for purchasing fishing boats, gillnet etc. 33 percent of the total cost of fishing boat is being provided to the fisherman as subsidy and         Rs. 3000 as subsidy for purchasing gillnets. In the year 2009 subsidy to 500 people have been provided in Bhakhra area alone and at present 370 fishermen are registered with Bhakra Fishing Centre.

The fishermen do angling as per the norms fixed by the state government for which they are also imparted training. The fisheries department has fixed timings for fishing.

The Fish Cooperative Societies also make arrangements for selling the fish in the markets. The department has established centres for the purpose. Fisheries Department is entitled to get 15 percent of the total cost while fishermen get 75 percent and 10 percent of the selling price goes to cooperative societies. The Department spends this amount for storage of fish seed so that the water reservoirs have plenty of fish available.

Katla, Rohu, Mrigal and silver carp fish varieties are found in abundance in Govind Sagar reservoir. There is a complete ban on fishing in Himachal Pradesh in the month of June and July every year because these months are considered as breeding period. Fisheries Department provides financial assistance to the fishermen during these months.

The Department also organises awareness camps for the fishermen and Rs.110 per day is given to every fishermen who attends this camp. Fisheries department is also implementing many welfare schemes for the benefit of the fishermen. Fishermen Group Accident Insurance Scheme, Fishermen Risk Fund Scheme and Contributory Off-Season Assistance Scheme for pond fishermen are some of the welfare schemes being implemented by the state government.

Fishermen are trained to establish their own ponds for fish production and 20 percent subsidy is also provided to them for this purpose. State Government is providing subsidy at the rate of Rs.1500 per hectare for the repair of old ponds.

Shri Roop Lal of Sadar Tehsil of District Bilaspur has constructed a pond for fish production on his land. He brought seeds of Mahashir, Rohila and other varieties of fish from Deoli fish farm in district Bilaspur, which happens to be the largest fish seed production farm in Asia. Today Shri Roop Lal is earning enough after selling fish in the market. Many progressive farmers of the nearby Panchayats have also started rearing fish after getting information about the incentives being provided by the state government for fish production.

Fish production in Bhakra Centre was 259 tonne from April, 2009 to March, 2010, while it was 194 tonne in the preceding year. The total fish production in the year 2008-09 was 7798 tonnes. 1737 fishermen were provided employment in Govind sagar. The Deoli Fish Farm Centre produced 120.50 lacs tonne of fish during the year 2008-09.