Lok Sabha Question No. 1349 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-11
Subject: Genetically Modified Fish
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Sudhakar Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1349 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH   FEBRUARY, 2025

## Genetically Modified Fish

## 1349. Shri Sudhakar Singh:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  introduced  genetically  modified  (GM)  fish  in  the country and if so, what are the details of the approval process, environmental risk assessments and safety protocols undertaken before such introduction;
- (b)  the  measures  are  being  taken  to  address  the  concerns  of  environmentalists, fisherfolk and scientists regarding the potential ecological and economic impacts of introducing GM fish into India's aquatic ecosystems;
- (c) the strategy of the Government for the development and promotion of sustainable aquaculture practices, including seaweed farming, to enhance livelihoods, improve bio-diversity, and contribute to climate change mitigation; and
- (d) the data on investments, initiatives and outcomes in seaweed cultivation and what steps are being taken to scale up its production and integrate it into the broader blue economy framework, State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a):  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  has  not  introduced  any genetically modified (GM) fish in the country.
- (b): Does not arise.
- (c):  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  is  implementing  various schemes  and  programmes  such  as  Pradhan  Mantri  matsya  Sampada  Yojana (PMMSY),  Fisheries  and  Aquaculture  Infrastructure  Development  Fund  (FIDF), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) and Kishan Credit Card  (KCC)  for  development  of  fisheries  and  aquaculture  including  seaweed cultivation.  Under  PMMSY,  various  activities  have  been  taken  up  for  promotion  of sustainable aquaculture such as (i) Genetic Improvement Programme of commercially important species, establishment of Brood Banks, Brood Stock Multiplication Centres (BMCs), hatcheries and seed rearing units for quality seed production, (ii) Species diversification by promoting indigenous species, (iii) Establishment of feed mills for manufacture  of  quality  fish  feed,  (iv)  Strengthening  cold  chain  and  marketing infrastructure  by  establishing  ice  plants,  cold  storages,  fish  markets,  fish  kiosk, insulated fish transport vehicles, and (v) capacity building and training programmes for creation of skilled manpower in fisheries and aquaculture sector.

(d):  Under  the  PMMSY,  the  Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  has approved the seaweed projects worth ₹194.09 crore, with a central share of ₹98.97 crore including support provided to beneficiaries for installation of 47,245 Rafts, 65,480 monolines/tubenets,  establishment  of  a  Multipurpose  Seaweed  Park,  Seaweed Seedbank, Pre-feasibility  Assessment  study  projects  on  seaweed  farming,  training and capacity building programs in various States and Union Territories (UTs).  The Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  has  taken  up  various  activities  for promotion of seaweed cultivation in coastal States and UTs under PMMSY such as (i) establishment of a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu, at a total project cost of Rs. 127.71 crore with central share of Rs.75.16 crore with objective to supply high quality planting materials to seaweed farmers, product innovation lab to develop new product lines, testing facility for quality testing of water and seaweed products, along with  single  window  support for  entrepreneurs  and  processors, (ii)  establishment  of Seaweed Brood Bank approved for supplying quality planting material to the farmers, (iii)  establishment of seaweed cluster at Lakshadweep Islands with development of seaweed value chain including seed bank, cultivation units, processing and marketing, (iv) approved 47,245 units of rafts and 65,480 units of monoline/tubenet method at a cost of Rs.63.53 crore for seaweed cultivation to the beneficieries of various States and UTs. State-wise details of rafts and monoline/tubenets including inputs approved under PMMSY are furnished at Annexure-I.

In addition, 6 projects at a total cost of ₹ 465.07 lakhs have been approved for various ICAR  and  CSIR  institutes,  wherein  100%  financial  support  is  provided  by  the Department of Fisheries, Government of India. These projects are primarily relating to Pre-feasibility Assessment studies of Seaweed Cultivation, Ecological safeguards in Gulf-of-Mannar, initiation of seaweed cultivation along Maharashtra coast, Seaweed farming feasibility assessment and promotion along Gulf of Kutch, skilling, capacity building and pre-feasibility for seaweed cultivation in and around Kori Creek in Gujarat, project on Seed plant production for promoting extensive cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii along Tamil Nadu coast and another project on establishment of pilot scale farming of commercially valuable seaweeds in U.T. of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The details  of  the  Central  Sector  (CS)  projects  approved  to  various  Institutes  and States/UTs on Seaweed under PMMSY is provided at Annexure-II.

The NFDB has organized various exposure and training programs on seaweed cultivation  for  fishers,  fish  farmers  and  state/UT  government  officials.  Besides, CSIR-CSMCRI has trained 2529 stakeholders (fishermen, industry, and entrepreneur) in total 63 training programmes conducted on Seaweed Cultivation and Processing  Technology during 2017-2025.  Besides,  ICAR-CMFRI  has conducted  102  training  programs  involving  7490  beneficiaries  for  promotion  of seaweed cultivation during the last 3 years (2022-2024).

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(Rs. In lakhs)

| Sl. No.   | State/UTs      | Unit   |   Cost |
|-----------|----------------|--------|--------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh | 26000  | 390    |
| 2         | Karnataka      | 10000  | 150    |
| 3         | Lakshadweep    | 500    |   9    |
| 4         | Maharashtra    | 1000   |  15    |
| 5         | Tamil Nadu     | 9745   | 146.18 |
|           | Total          | 47,245 | 710.18 |

## (ii) Seaweed cultivation with Monoline/tubenet Method including inputs

(Rs. In lakhs)

| Sl. No.   | State/UTs      | Unit   |   Cost |
|-----------|----------------|--------|--------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh | 41200  | 3296   |
| 2         | Gujarat        | 400    |   32   |
| 3         | Karnataka      | 21000  | 1680   |
| 4         | Lakshadweep    | 250    |  125   |
| 5         | Tamil Nadu     | 2630   |  210.4 |
|           | Total          | 65,480 | 5343.4 |

(Rs. in lakh)

| Establishment of a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu   | Establishment of a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu   | Establishment of a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu   | Establishment of a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu   | Establishment of a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu   | Establishment of a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu   | Establishment of a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| State/UT                                                     | Financial Year                                               | Total Project Cost                                           | Central Share                                                | State Share                                                  | Beneficiary Share                                            | Anticipated Beneficiaries                                    |
| Tamil Nadu                                                   | 2022-23                                                      | 12771                                                        | 7516                                                         | 4894                                                         | 360                                                          | 700                                                          |

Annexure-I

Statement referred to in reply of part (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1349 regarding Genetically Modified Fish for answer on 11 th  February, 2025: State-wise rafts and monoline/tubenet method approved for seaweed cultivation under PMMSY.

## (i) Seaweed cultivation rafts including inputs

## Annexure-II

Statement referred to in reply of part (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1349 regarding Genetically Modified Fish for answer on 11 th  February, 2025: The details of Central Sector (CS) projects approved to various Institutes and States/UTs on Seaweed under PMMSY

| Sl No .   | Implementing agency/project proponent                            | Name of the project                                                                                                                                         | Project cost (Rs. in lakh)   |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|
| (i)       | (ii)                                                             | (iii)                                                                                                                                                       | (v)                          |
| 1         | CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) | Seed plant production for promoting extensive cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii along Tamil Nadu coast                                                   | 53.185                       |
| 2         | UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands                                | Pre-feasibility studies and establishment of pilot scale farming of commercially valuable seaweeds in Andaman Coast                                         | 82.74                        |
| 3         | (i). NCSCM, MoEF&CC, Gol. (ii). CSIR-CSMCRI (iii). ICAR-CMFRI    | Joint study on seaweed cultivation potential and ecological safeguards in the Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu                                                    | 59.70                        |
| 4         | CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) | Strategies to initiate seaweed cultivation along the coast of Maharashtra                                                                                   | 121.31                       |
| 5         | ICAR - Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)       | Seaweed farming feasibility assessment and exploration of promotional activities along Kori, Padala and other selected locations along Kutch Coast, Gujarat | 94.92                        |
| 6         | CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) | Skilling, Capacity building, and Pre- feasibility Assessment of Seaweed Cultivation in and around Kori Creek, Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat                        | 53.22                        |
|           |                                                                  | Total                                                                                                                                                       | 465.07                       |

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