Coldwater fisheries has a great potential in generating rural income and providing food security to the economically underprivileged population residing in Indian uplands. To utilize the available resources and opportunities in the coldwater fisheries sector the involvement of Indian Council of Agricultural Research in this sector started during late sixties which, subsequently culminated in the creation of National Research Center on Coldwater Fisheries as an independent Research Center on 24 September 1987 during the VII Five Year Plan.

This is the only national facility in the country to take up the research investigation on capture and culture aspects wi th a focus on exotic and indigenous coldwater fish species. Since its inception, the NRCCWF in spite of constraints in terms of manpower and infrastructure has made significant contribution for proper appraisal of coldwater fishery resources and evolve suitable technologies to propagate important coldwater fish species in hills.

Keeping in view the ever expanding activities of NRCCWF and the greater potential of coldwater fisheries in different Himalayan states, in a significant decision during the XI plan, it has been made a Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR), to develop location, situation and system specific technologies by utilizing and augmenting resources in all the Himalayan states from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. 

The DCFR is on its glorious path of virtually actualizing its vision by imparting boon of quality research in sustainable coldwater fisheries production, management and conservation.