Financial protection for inland fish farmers against mass fish mortality due to disease, flood, water quality events, and natural disasters. Offered by the insurer under their rural product range — PMMSY / Govt. premium subsidy eligible.
Rural Insurance
Inland Fresh Water Fish Insurance is a specialised rural insurance product by Probitas Insurance Brokers Ltd. (the insurer) that provides financial protection to inland fishery farmers and aquaculture entrepreneurs against loss from mass fish mortality in fresh water bodies (ponds, tanks, reservoirs, canals, and raceways) due to disease, natural disasters, and water quality events. Practised across Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh — a single disease outbreak or flood can wipe out an entire pond overnight. Probitas Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. (IRDAI Lic. No. 528) is your licensed broker.
Labeo rohita — most common Indian freshwater fish
Catla catla — fast-growing surface feeder
Cyprinus carpio — bottom feeder, hardy breed
High-yield commercial freshwater fish
Fast-growing, disease-resistant species
Catla + Rohu + Mrigal + Grass/Silver Carp combined
Eligible fish farmers under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the Blue Revolution scheme, and National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) programmes can avail of a premium subsidy of 40% to 75% of the total insurance premium — paid directly by the government to the insurer. The insured pays only the residual balance. Contact Probitas on 022 4302 0000 to check your eligibility and enrol under the applicable government scheme.
Who Can Apply
Method 1 (Count basis):
No. of fingerlings × Avg. weight per fish (kg) × Market price per kg
Example: 5,000 fish × 0.5 kg × ₹100/kg = Sum Insured ₹2,50,000
Method 2 (Biomass basis):
Total estimated biomass (kg) × Market price per kg agreed at inception
Policy period: typically 12 months or one declared rearing cycle
A valid fingerling stocking receipt from a certified hatchery or the Fisheries Department is mandatory — required for all claim settlements. Always retain this receipt from the date of stocking. Claims without a stocking certificate will not be settled.
Plan Comparison
Compare coverage across Basic, Comprehensive, and Government Subsidised plans under the insurer Inland Fresh Water Fish Insurance.
| Points of Difference | Basic Mortality | Comprehensive | Govt. Subsidised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Disease Mortality (EUS, Bacterial, Viral — certified) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Flood, Inundation, Cyclone, Storm, Hailstorm mortality | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Sudden water quality event — mass mortality (certified) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Lightning and Fire causing fish loss | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Drought — officially declared, pond dries up | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Earthquake / Landslide causing water body damage | ✗ Limited | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Third-party pollution causing mass mortality | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Government Premium Subsidy (PMMSY/NFDB/State) | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✓ Yes (40%–75%) |
| Nil / Reduced Deductible | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✓ Eligible |
| Claim Basis | Biomass lost × market rate | Biomass lost × market rate | Biomass lost × market rate |
| Standard Deductible | 5% of SI | 5% of SI | Nil or Reduced |
| Stocking Certificate Required | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Fisheries Dept. Certification Required | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Premium Level | Base | Base + Add-On | Subsidised (pay 25%–60%) |
Coverage Under Fresh Water Fish Insurance
The policy covers mass fish mortality from disease, natural disasters, water quality events, and third-party pollution. All claims require official Fisheries Department certification. Notify Probitas within 48 hours of first observing mortality.
If you observe mass fish mortality in your pond, call Probitas on 022 4302 0000 immediately — within 48 hours of first observing deaths. Do NOT remove, dispose of, or bury dead fish before the Fisheries Department inspector visits and certifies the loss. Removing dead fish before inspection automatically voids your claim and prevents accurate mortality assessment.
Unlike standard property insurance, all disease, water quality, and mortality claims require formal certification by the authorised Fisheries Department official — confirming cause of fish death, percentage of pond mortality, and condition of the water body. Self-reported or unverified mortality is not accepted. The insurer may additionally appoint their own loss assessor to verify findings.
How Claims Are Calculated
Claim = (No. of fish dead × Avg. weight/fish kg × Market price/kg agreed at inception) − Deductible
OR: Claim = (Biomass lost kg × Market price/kg) − Deductible
% mortality is determined exclusively by the authorised Fisheries Department official.
Standard deductible: 5% of the sum insured (exact % as per policy schedule at inception). For PMMSY / NFDB / state scheme beneficiaries, the deductible may be nil or significantly reduced. Confirm with Probitas at inception.
If the number of fish stocked exceeds the declared stocking density for the pond area, the condition of average applies — the claim is reduced proportionally. Always declare the actual number of fingerlings stocked and never exceed the prescribed stocking density for your pond area and species.
To avoid disputes at claim time, the market price per kg of fish is agreed at policy inception and stated in the policy schedule. This rate is used to calculate all claims — actual market price at time of loss is not used. Choose a realistic, verifiable market price at inception.
| Parameter | Flood — 100% Mortality | EUS Disease — 60% Mortality | Drought — Total Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Stocked / Biomass | 5,000 fish | 5,000 fish | 1,800 kg biomass |
| Avg. Weight / Biomass | 0.5 kg/fish = 2,500 kg | 0.5 kg/fish = 2,500 kg | 1,800 kg total |
| Market Price per kg (agreed) | ₹ 100 / kg | ₹ 100 / kg | ₹ 110 / kg |
| Sum Insured | ₹ 2,50,000 | ₹ 2,50,000 | ₹ 1,98,000 |
| % Mortality Certified by Dept. | 100% | 60% | 100% |
| Gross Claim | ₹ 2,50,000 | ₹ 1,50,000 | ₹ 1,98,000 |
| Deductible (5% of SI) | ₹ 12,500 | ₹ 7,500 | ₹ 9,900 |
| Claim Payable | ₹ 2,37,500 | ₹ 1,42,500 | ₹ 1,88,100 |
* Illustrative only. Actual settlement depends on Fisheries Dept. certified % mortality, market price agreed at inception, and policy schedule terms. All claims subject to official Fisheries Dept. certification.
Policy Conditions
The following 12 conditions are binding under the the insurer Inland Fresh Water Fish Insurance Policy. Non-compliance may result in claim rejection or policy voiding.
Declaration at Inception: Water body area (acres), depth, GPS / survey number, stocking density, fish species, number of fingerlings, average weight, and market value per kg must all be accurately declared.
Stocking Certificate: Proof of fingerling stocking — stocking receipt from a certified hatchery or the Fisheries Department — is mandatory for all claim settlements. Retain this receipt from day one.
Notification within 48 Hours: Insured must notify Probitas (022 4302 0000) and the insurer within 48 hours of first observing mass fish mortality. Delayed notification may prejudice or void claims.
Do Not Remove Dead Fish: Dead fish must NOT be removed, disposed of, or buried before the Fisheries Dept. inspector visits and certifies the mortality. Pre-inspection disposal voids the claim entirely.
Fisheries Dept. Inspection: All mortality claims require certification by the authorised Fisheries Department official. Farmer must cooperate and enable timely inspection — delays void claims.
Water Quality Records: Insured must maintain regular water quality records (pH, DO, temperature, ammonia) and pond management logs throughout the policy period — required for disease / water quality claims.
Stocking Density Limit: Fish stocking must NOT exceed the prescribed density for the declared pond area and water body type. Exceeding density may void or proportionally reduce claims.
Approved Species Only: Only fish species declared and approved in the policy schedule are covered. Introduction of undeclared species voids cover for those species during the policy period.
Equipment Maintenance: Aerators, pumps, and water management equipment must be maintained in good working order. Mortality caused solely by equipment failure without a concurrent natural peril is not covered.
Subrogation: On settlement of any claim (including third-party pollution claims), all rights of recovery against the responsible party automatically transfer to the insurer.
Government Subsidy Policies: For subsidised policies, the insured's balance premium must be paid before cover commences. Non-payment of balance premium voids cover for that policy period.
Material Change Notification: Any change in fish species, stocking density, or water body use during the policy period must be notified immediately. Failure to notify may void claims for the changed stock.
How to File a Claim
Fish mortality claims have unique requirements — the Fisheries Department official must certify all losses. Follow these four steps carefully. Probitas assists at every stage — call 022 4302 0000.
Call Probitas (022 4302 0000) and the insurer immediately upon observing mass fish mortality — within 48 hours of first signs. Do NOT remove dead fish from the pond before inspection — this voids the claim.
The authorised Fisheries Department official visits and certifies: % fish mortality, cause of death (disease / flood / water quality), and condition of the water body and pond management. Insurer may also appoint their own loss assessor to verify.
Submit: Claim Form, Policy doc, Fisheries Dept. loss certification report, fingerling stocking receipt from certified hatchery, pond water quality / management records, photographs / video of dead fish and water body, FIR (if third-party pollution), and bank details.
Insurer verifies documents and Fisheries Dept. certification. Claim = (Biomass lost kg × Market rate/kg agreed at inception) − Deductible. Payment by NEFT within 30 days of complete documentation per IRDAI TAT norms.
Common Questions about Fresh Water Fish Insurance
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