Lok Sabha Question No. 1191 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-11
Subject: Socio-Economic Impact on Fishing Communities
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1191 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## Socio-Economic Impact on Fishing Communities

## 1191. Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  socio-economic  impact  on  fishing communities in Tamil Nadu and Pudukkottai district due to restricted fishing access in the Palk Bay;
- (b) if so, the details of such assessments;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  alternative  livelihood  programmes  for fishermen in this region, including aquaculture, deep-sea fishing, or seaweed farming and if so, the details and status of implementation of these programmes; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  collaborated  with  other  departments  to  introduce technology-based solutions, such as GPS tracking, mobile apps, and real-time weather and border alerts, to assist fishermen in safely navigating fishing zones while avoiding Sri Lankan waters, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a)  and  (b):  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  has  not  issued  any directives to restrict fishing activities of the fishing communities of Tamil Nadu including Pudukkottai district in the Palk Bay. Besides, the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu, has informed that no such assessment is done by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

(c):  The  Department  of  Fisheries  (DoF),  Government  of  India  (GoI)  introduced  a  sub component on 'Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing', under the Scheme of 'Blue Revolution: Integrated  Development  and  Management  of  Fisheries'  to  provide  Deep  Sea  Fishing Vessels to the traditional fishermen, their societies, associations, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Fishers Producer Organizations (FPOs) for deep sea fishing. Under the Scheme, a sum  of  Rs.300  crore  has  been  sanctioned  by  the  Government  of  India  to  the  State Government of Tamil Nadu during 2017-18 for procurement of Deep Sea Fishing Vessels for  traditional  fishers  and  for  construction  of  a  fish  landing  centre  at  Kunthakal  in Rameshwaram District of Tamil Nadu. The DoF, GoI had advised the Govt of Tamil Nadu to  give  priority  while  selecting  the  beneficiaries  under  the  Scheme  to  the  fishermen belonging to 4 Districts of the Palk Bay, (namely Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram).  Under  this  scheme,  construction  of  71  boats  were  completed  and handed over to the beneficiaries. Construction of 15 boats are at various stages. So far, a sum of Rs.41.08 crore has been released as subsidy to the beneficiaries.

Further,  the  DoF,  GoI  is  implementing  a  flagship  scheme  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an investment of Rs.20,050 crore for development of fisheries  in  all  States/  Union  Territories  during  a  period  of  2020-21  to  2024-25.  Under PMMSY,  the  DoF,  GoI  during  the  last  four  financial  years  (2020-21  to  2024-25)  has sanctioned projects worth Rs.1156.15 crore to the State Government of Tamil Nadu with central share of Rs. 448.65 crore towards development of fisheries sector in the state of Tamil Nadu. The administrative sanction accorded under PMMSY to Tamil Nadu includes an amount of Rs.127.71 crore for Establishment of Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu. A total of 136 coastal villages have been identified in Six Coastal Districts of Tamil Nadu (Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi) for seaweed cultivation under this project. Ramanathapuram and Pudukottai districts  have been designated for the establishment of HUB I and HUB II facilities. At present, 50 percent construction work has been completed in HUB I and Spoke facilities. Under PMMSY scheme, 1812 Nos. of Monolines at a cost of Rs.86.98 lakh, 8140 Nos. of rafts at a cost of Rs. 73.28 lakhs have been distributed for Seaweed cultivation and 43 cages have been distributed to coastal fisher folk at a cost of Rs.28.38 lakh for undertaking open sea cage culture in Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram District, during 2020-21 to 2023-24. The DoF, GoI has also accorded approval for procurement of  50  Deep  Sea Fishing Vessels under PMMSY for the fishermen of Tamil Nadu with a total project cost of Rs. 60 Crores.

(d):  The Vessel Communication and Support System (VCSS) (Transponders) have been developed  by  Indian  Space  Research  Organization  (ISRO)  as  a  means  of  two-way communication and support system for fishing vessels, to help in monitoring the fishing vessels and rendering assistance at the time of distress in sea while fishing. The DoF, GoI has sanctioned and released an amount of Rs. 18.01 crore to Government of Tamil Nadu for fitment of 4997 transponders on the mechanized fishing vessels of Tamil Nadu under Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Blue Revolution to enhance the safety and security of fishermen while fishing in the sea. The VCSS provides the technology based solutions, including  GPS  tracking,  mobile  app  called  Nabhamitra,  and  real-time  weather  and maritime boundary alerts, to assist fishermen in safely navigating fishing zones and to avoid  unintentional  crossing  of  maritime  boundary.  Besides,  the  DoF,  GoI  has  also earmarked  funds  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY)  for provision for safety kits such as Global Positioning System (GPS), life-jackets, lifebuoy, other life-saving appliances, a radar reflector, first-aid box, a set of flares, backup battery, search & rescue beacons etc. for fishers going for fishing at sea. Funds are also earmarked under PMMSY for Communication and /or Tracking Devices like Transmitters (DATs)/ Automatic Identification System (AIS)/ Navigation with Indian Constellation (NAVIC)/Transponders etc. for safety of fishers and fishing vessels.

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