Fresh water fisheries in Orissa include 2,56,000 Hectares of reservoirs, lakes and swamps, 1,16,000 Hectares of ponds and tanks and 1,55,000 Hectares of canals and 1,80,000 Hectares of rivers.
Brackish or salt water fisheries in Orissa include 8,100 of backwater regions, cultivated brinies adding up to 32,587 Hectares and 2,98,000 Hectares of estuaries and 79,000 Hectares of Lagoons.
One of the most significant aspects of Orissa pisciculture is the prawn production. The prawn culture was started during the 1980's has flourished over the years. The OSSPC or the Orissa Shrimp Seed Production Center has been inaugurated for the purpose of research and development of shrimp culture.
The fishery sector of Orissa is controlled and planned by the Center for Fisheries and Aquaculture under the Directorate of Fisheries, Orissa. There are near about 11,00,000 fishermen in the state. There is a great demand for the fish produced in the state in Kolkata and in the markets of the state itself. The main fishing centers in Orissa are:
- Balasore
- Bhadrak
- Puri
- Ganjam
- Kendrapada
- Jagatsinghpur
