Lok Sabha Question No. 4147 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: Post Harvest Losses in Fisheries Sector
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Manickam Tagore B

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4147 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## Post Harvest Losses in Fisheries Sector

## 4147. Shri Manickam Tagore B:

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

- (a) whether the Government has any data on post-harvest losses in the fisheries sector due to inadequate cold chain and transport infrastructure;
- (b) whether a nationwide survey is being conducted to identify pollution hotspots such as plastic, sewage or chemical runoff affecting marine and inland fisheries;
- (c) whether the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is coordinating with the  Ministry  of  Environment  to  address  habitat  destruction  due  to  coastal  construction  and urbanization;
- (d) whether  there  is  any  fund  or  scheme  to  assist  fishers  affected  by  monsoon unpredictability or extreme weather events linked to climate change;
- (e) whether any policy changes are proposed to regulate or phase out deep sea trawling, which has adverse ecological and economic consequences;
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  expand  aquaculture  zones  and  offer incentives  to  counteract  the  shrinking  of  fish  farming  areas  due  to  industrial  and  urban expansion; and
- (g) whether extension and advisory services are being strengthened to educate fishers about sustainable practices and climate-resilient technologies?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## (SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)

- (a): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying during the  year  2023-24  has  carried  out  a  comprehensive  study  through  the  National  Productivity Council of India (NPC) an autonomous organization under Ministry of Commerce and Industry to  assess  post  harvest  losses  in  fisheries  and  aquaculture  sector.  The  studies  reveal  an average post harvest loss of 9.3% for marine fisheries and 8.84% for inland fisheries. Further, the study reported the high losses during handling and transportation due to inadequate cold chain infrastructure, lack of hygienic handling practices and delays in market access.
- (b) and (c) : The Fishery Survey of India (FSI) is conducting nation-wide survey to identify the hotspots  for  ALDFG  in  Indian  coastal  and  offshore  waters  that  adversely  impact  marine fisheries. Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping is being used to identify pinpoint and categories hotspots by pollution type-plastic, sewage, or chemical runoff-along major fishing grounds.  The  findings  will  support  targeted  mitigation  measures,  policy  interventions,  and awareness  programmes  to  safeguard  fish  stocks,  fishing  livelihoods,  and  overall  marine ecosystem health. The Department of Fisheries, Government of India is coordinating with the Central Ministries concerned including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as and when required in the matter of fisheries development and management.

(d): The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  has  been  implementing  various schemes for assisting fishers, fish farmers and other stakeholders for development of fisheries and aquaculture including aquaculture crop insurance. The schemes include Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY). Besides, the  Kisan  Credit  facility  is  also  provided  to  fishers  and  fish  farmers  to  meet  their  capital requirements.

(e): Paired bottom trawling or bull trawling and use of LED lights in fishing are banned in the  Exclusive  Economic  Zone  (EEZ)  of  India.  All  the  maritime  States/UTs  have  also  been advised to take necessary steps to prevent pair or bull trawling and use of LED light for fishing within and beyond the territorial waters. Bottom Trawling is a fishing method used to catch the targeted benthic fishes and catch of Non-target species are reduced by the use of by-catch reduction devices, which are selective devices, like the Turtle Excluder Device (TED) used in shrimp Bottom trawls. The Department of Fisheries, Government of India has advised to coastal states/UTs to review and amend their respective MFRAs to ensure mandatory use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) towards marine turtle conservation. All nine coastal states, namely Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal have amended their MFRAs to mandate TED use. The UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep do not permit fishing using bottom trawl. The implementation of TED has been included and supported under the PMMSY scheme with 100% financial assistance (60% Central + 40% State).

(f): The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) inter-alia provides adoption of a cluster-based  approach  on  the  principle  of  zoning  and  organized  manner  to  enhance  the competitiveness of the fisheries sector, facilitate economies of scale, generate higher incomes, and accelerate the growth and expansion of fisheries and aquaculture in an organized manner.

(g)  :  The  Fishery  Survey  of  India  (FSI)  is  conducting  regular  onboard  training,  regional workshops and village-level awareness programmes focusing on responsible fishing methods, bycatch  reduction,  protection  of  sensitive  habitats,  and  compliance  with  marine  fishing regulations. FSI is also promoting climate-resilient technologies such as fuel-efficient engines, energy-saving fishing gears, improved fish handling and preservation techniques to reduce post-harvest  losses.  Scientific  advisories  on  shifting  fish  distribution  patterns,  seasonal resource availability and early warning of extreme weather events are disseminated through local contacts to fisher networks. These initiatives aim to enhance the adaptive capacity of fishing  communities,  ensure  resource  sustainability  and  improve  livelihoods  in  the  face  of climate change.

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