Lok Sabha Question No. 4048 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Fisheries Cluster Zone
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Prof. Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4048 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th MARCH, 2025

## Fisheries Cluster Zone

## 4048. Prof. Sougata Ray:

Will  the  Minister  of  FISHERIES,  ANIMAL  HUSBANDRY  AND  DAIRYING  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any framework to tap the fisheries potential of the States of West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has any proposal to set up fisheries cluster zones in the above States, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the proposed sustainable fisheries management?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI GEORGE KURION)

(a) : The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and Dairying, Government of India, recognizing the potential of fisheries sector, since 2015, has substantially stepped-up investments in fisheries sector through schemes worth Rs. 38,572  crore  for  holistic  development  of  fisheries  and  aquaculture  and  welfare  of fishermen in the country including in West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The  schemes  include,  (i)  Blue  Revolution  Scheme  implemented  from  FY2015-16  to 2019-20 with central outlay of Rs 3,000 crore helped in mobilizing of a total investment of Rs.  5,000  crore,    (ii)  Fisheries  and  Aquaculture  Infrastructure  Development  Fund implemented from FY2018-19 with a fund size of Rs. 7,522.48 crore, (iii) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implemented from FY2020-21 to 2024-25 with an investment of Rs. 20,050 crore, (iv) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana (PM-MKSSY) implemented  from  the  FY2023-24  to  2026-27  with  a  total  outlay  of  Rs. 6,000 crore an. In addition, the Government of India has also extended the facility of the Kisan  Credit  Card  (KCC)  to  the  fishers  and  fish  farmers  to  meet  their  working  capital requirements.

(b) and (c) : The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying during the  last four years (2020-21 to 2023-24) and current year(2024-25) has accorded approvals to the fisheries developmental proposals of various State Governments,  Union  Territories  and  other  implementation  agencies  amounting  to Rs.20,990.79 crore with central share of Rs.8926.28 crore under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada  Yojana  for  development  of  fisheries  and  aquaculture  in  the  country.      This includes (i) proposals of Government of West Bengal approved at a cost of Rs.544.39 crore  with  central  share  of  Rs.225.55  crore  and  (ii)  proposals  of  Andaman  &  Nicobar Administration approved at a cost of Rs.58.67 crore with central share of Rs.31.23 crore under  PMMSY.  The  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampadha  Yojana  (PMMSY) inter-alia provides  adoption  of  a  cluster-based  approach  to  enhance  the  competitiveness  of  the fisheries sector, facilitate economies of scale, generate higher incomes, accelerate the growth, expansion of fisheries and aquaculture in an organized manner in cluster based approach. The Department of Fisheries, Government of India has issued the 'Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Production and Processing Clusters in Fisheries Sector' to  all  the  State  Governments  and  Union  Territories  for  implementation  of  clusters  in various field of fisheries and aquaculture under PMMSY. The States and UTs have been advised  to  implement  the  clusters  based  approach  for  development  of  fisheries  and aquaculture. Based on the request received from the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, development of Tuna fisheries cluster in Andaman & Nicobar Islands has been notified under PMMSY.

The  'National  Policy  on  Marine  Fisheries,  2017  notified  by  the  Government  of India,  provides  guiding  principles  of  conservation  and  optimum  utilization  of  fisheries resources for ensuring sustainability. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying,  as  a  conservation  measure,  has  been  implementing fishing  ban  in  India's  EEZ  along  the  east  and  west  coasts  annually  during  the  major breeding season of the commercial fish species. On the east coast, including the coasts of West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar, the fishing ban is implemented annually from 15 th   April  to  15 th   June. The States and UTs, through their Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, also regulates fishing activities in the state's and UT's territorial waters to support the  sustainable  management  of  fisheries.  In  addition,  the  Government  of  India  has prohibited harmful fishing practices, such as pair or bull trawling, and the use of LED or artificial lights for fishing within the EEZ.

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