Lok Sabha Question No. 3799 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: PMMSY in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3799 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 th  AUGUST, 2025

## PMMSY in Tamil Nadu

## 3799. Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy:

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

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen the blue economy with a focus on enhancing fisheries infrastructure in coastal States, including Tamil Nadu;
- (b)  the  current  status  of  development  and  modernization  of  fish  landing  centers,  cold  storage facilities, processing units, and fishing harbors in Tamil Nadu;
- (c) the details of funds allocated and utilized for fisheries infrastructure development in Tamil Nadu under Pradhan Mantri Matsya SampadaYojana (PMMSY) during the last five years;
- (d) the initiatives undertaken to promote sustainable fishing practices, marine biodiversity conservation and fisherfolk welfare in Tamil Nadu;
- (e) whether the Government has any plans to enhance marine aquaculture, export potential, and skill development programs for fishermen in Tamil Nadu; and
- (f)  the  measures  being  taken  to  ensure  effective  coordination  with  the  State  Government  for maximizing the impact of these initiatives?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and  (b):  Recognizing  the  immense  potential  of  the  Fisheries  Sector  and  for  focused  and  holistic development of the sector with fishers and fish farmers' welfare, for strengthening the  blue economy with a focus on enhancing fisheries infrastructure, the Government of India has taken several steps like created a separate Department of Fisheries in February, 2019 and this was followed up by creation of a new Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in June, 2019. The Government of India has stepped  up  investments  in  fisheries  and  aquaculture  sector  in  the  country.  From  2015,  the  central government has approved schemes with total investments of Rs.38,572 crore and these include; (1) Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  on  Blue  Revolution:  Integrated  Development  and  Management  of Fisheries  implemented  for  a  period  of  5  years  from  FY  2015-16  to  FY  2019-20  and  this  scheme mobilized an investment of Rs.5000 crore, (2) Fisheries  and  Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund  (FIDF)  has  been  implemented  with  effect  from  the  year  2018-19  with  a  total  funds  size  of Rs.7522.48 crore, (3) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has been implemented with effect from the FY 2020-21 with an estimated investment of Rs.20,050 crore, (4) Central Sector Subscheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah  Yojana (PMMKSSY) under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an investment of Rs.6000 crore. Additionally, the Government of India with effect from the financial year 2018-19 has extended the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fishers  and fish famers to help them to meet their  working capital requirements. These schemes are primarily designed to address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, postharvest  infrastructure  and  management, modernisation  and  strengthening  of  value  chain,  traceability, establishing  a  robust  fisheries  management  framework  and  fishers'  welfare  to  realize  the  Blue Economy. Department of Fisheries, Government of India has accorded approvals for various  project proposals of Government of Tamil Nadu under PMMSY during FY 2020-25, which includes up-gradation of  Fishing  Harbour  at  Pazhayar  Chennai  fishing  harbour  and  construction  of  four  integrated  Fish Landing  Centres  at  Nettukuppam,  Thazankuppam,  Arangankuppam  and  Goonankuppam  at  a  total project cost of Rs. 155.57 crore. The other fisheries post harvest infrastructure activities approved for Tamil  Nadu  under  PMMSY during  FY  2020-25  includes  construction  of  Ice  Plants/Cold  storages  (41 Nos), fish markets (3 Nos), Construction of Fish Kiosks (55 Nos) and post-harvest transportation units (1540 Nos).

Under the scheme of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), 64 proposals worth of Rs. 1646.73 crore have been approved during the FY2018-19 to 2025-26 for the State of Tamil Nadu, which includes 21 Fish landing centers at total project cost of Rs.157.50 Crore and 12 Fishing Harbours at total project cost of Rs.1300.00 crore. Government of Tamil Nadu has reported that under FIDF  scheme,  Modernization  of  Nagapattinam  Fishing  Harbour  to  the  tune  of  Rs.81.00  crore  was undertaken and completed. Further, Expansion and Modernization of Thangapattinam Fishing Harbour in Kanyakumari District has been undertaken at a cost Rs.193.00 crore under two phases, out of which one phase work completed. Government of Tamil Nadu has also informed that under PMMSY scheme, for Cold Storage facilities, work order has been issued to 2 beneficiaries under Cold storage of 10 ton capacity and 1 beneficiary under Cold storage of 50 ton capacity and construction works are taken up.

(c): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of  India  during  last  five  years  (FY  2020-21-  FY  2024-25)    accorded  approvals  to  the  fisheries development proposals of Government of Tamil Nadu amounting to Rs. 1159.98 crore under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), which includes Post harvest and cold chain infrastructure projects  such  as  40  Cold  Storages/Ice  Plants,  204  Refrigerated/ Insulated  vehicles,  12  Live  fish vending Centers, 1264 Motor cycle with Ice Box, 60 Three wheeler with Ice Box including e-rickshaws and 5 feed mills/plants and Markets and marketing infrastructure projects of 3 fish retail markets and 55 fish kiosks including kiosks of aquarium/ornamental fish worth Rs.108.13 crore. The Government of Tamil Nadu has reported that, Rs. 258.46 crore has been utilized for implementation of the approved projects under PMMSY.

(d) and (e): Advisories are issued to coastal States and Union Territories including to Tamil Nadu from time  to  time  for  preventing  juvenile  fishing  and  promoting  sustainable  fishing  practices.  The  key conservation measures taken up to ensure sustainable marine fisheries includes (i) Implementation of 61 days uniform ban on fishing in the Indian EEZ annually, (ii) Ban on destructive fishing practices in the Indian EEZ viz. paired bottom trawling or bull trawling and use of artificial and LED lights in fishing, (iii)  Declaration  of  marine  protected  areas  (MPAs)  and  protection  of  endangered,  threatened  and protected (ETP) species, (iv) Installation of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawl nets, fishing gear and mesh-size regulations, minimum legal size (MLS) of fishes, spatial-temporal restrictions, zonation of fishing areas by the coastal States/UTs

To  promote  sustainable  fishing  in  the  state  of  Tamil  Nadu,  Government  of  India  has  approved  the project  for  installation  of  417  Artificial  Reef  units  at  a  total  project  cost  of  Rs.129.27  Crore  and  the project  for  establishment  of  Multipurpose  Seaweed  Park  in  Tamil  Nadu  at  a  total  project  cost  of Rs.127.71 Crore. Under marine aquaculture activities and to support fisherfolk welfare in the state of Tamil  Nadu,  DoF,  GoI  has  approved  the  projects  for  establishment  of  Multipurpose  Seaweed  Park, Seaweed  culture  rafts  including  inputs,  Seaweed  culture  with  Monoline/tubenet  method  including inputs,  Marine  Finfish  Nurseries,  Open  Sea  cages  and  Bivalve  cultivation  (mussels,  clams,  pearls, etc.).  Government of Tamil Nadu informed that under PMMSY, 109 cages distributed for fisher folk; 9745  seaweed  rafts  and  2630  monoline  to  1964  fisherwomen  and  for  the  development  of  Shrimp culture, subsidy has been provided for construction of 53 bio-floc ponds; 100 ha of construction of new ponds, 10 ha of construction of seabass fish pond and 2 nos. of Marine finfish nursery.

In  order  to  enhance  India's  export  potential  and  higher  price  realization,  the  PMMSY  scheme implemented by DoF, GoI supports a basket of interventions/activities along the fisheries value chain including  quality  fish  production,  expansion,  diversification  and  intensification  of  brackish  water aquaculture, promotion of export-oriented species, infusion of technology, robust disease management and  traceability,  training  and  capacity  building,  creation  of  modern  postharvest  infrastructure  with seamless cold chain, development of modern fishing harbours and fish landing centres, etc.

Training  and  capacity-building  programs  have  also  been  imparted  under  PMMSY  Scheme  through National Fisheries Development Board. The projects are approved based on proposals received from the  states  and  include  initiatives  aimed  at  enhancing  skills  of  fishers  and  fish  farmers  for  livelihood generation  through  various  activities  under  PMMSY.  Under  the  schemes  of  Government  of  India, training programs for seaweed cultivation have also been imparted to 750 fisherwomen during 201819.

(f):  Besides,  the  implementation  of  the  scheme  and  its  funds  utilization  are  monitored  by  obtaining physical  and  financial  progress  reports  from  the  State  Governments  and  for  effective  coordination between Government of India and States, regular monitoring, workshops, training and conferences are organized.