Lok Sabha Question No. 3734 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Improvement in Fisheries Sector
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3734 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH AUGUST, 2025

## Improvement in Fisheries Sector

## 3734.    Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  initiatives  towards  holistic  development  of fisheries sector in all States/UTs in the country including Karnataka;
- (b) if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  fisheries  sector  in Karnataka;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government for enhancing fish production, strengthening of  value  chain,  employment  generation,  ensuring  safety  and  security  of  fisheries  and ensuring sustainability of the resources in Karnataka; and
- (d) the  financial  assistance  provided  to  Government  of  Karnataka  towards  holistic development of fisheries sector along with funds allocated, disbursed and utilized, yearwise during the last five years?

## 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, Government of India has taken up several transformational initiatives for holistic development of fisheries and aquaculture sector in the country including in Karnataka. Some of the key reforms are highlighted below.
- (i)  Recognizing the immense potential of the Fisheries Sector and for focused and holistic development  of  the  sector  with  fishers  and  fish  farmers'  welfare  at  the  core,  the Government of India 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.
- (ii)  Highest ever investments in fisheries sector:  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. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has been implementing  with  effect  from  the  FY  2020-21  with an  estimated  investment  of Rs.20,050  crore,  (3)  Central  Sector  Sub-scheme  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Kisan Samridhi  Sah  Yojana  (PMMKSSY)  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an investment of Rs. 6000 crore.
- (iii)  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.

(b) to (d): The fisheries development schemes and programmes implemented by the Department  of  Fisheries, Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying, Government of India primarily aimed  to address the critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernisation and strengthening of fisheries value chain, establishing a robust fisheries management framework, skill development and capacity building, creation of employment opportunities, enhancement of income of fishers, fish farmers,  welfare of fishers and to provide social security cover to fishers.

During  last  five  years,  the  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal Husbandry and Dairying has approved fisheries developmental projects of Government of Karnataka amounting to Rs.1058.98 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana  (PMMSY)  covering  various  fisheries  activities  for  improving  the  fisheries  and aquaculture sector in the State. The major activities approved inter-alia include production enhancing activities like establishment of hatcheries, expansion of area for freshwater and brackishwater aquaculture, Biofloc Ponds, Deep Sea Fishing Vessels, Up-gradation of existing Fishing Vessels for export competency, stocking of fingerlings in Reservoirs, Cage Culture in Reservoirs, Seaweed Cultivation, Bivalve Cultivation, Ornamental Fish rearing and breeding, Re-circulatory Aquaculture Systems, installation of Artificial Reefs in the coast towards sustainability, extension support systems-Matsya Seva Kendras & Sagar Mitras.

The post-harvest infrastructure approved under PMMSY also including modernization of existing  Fishing  Harbours,  maintenance  dredging  at  the  existing  fishing  harours/fish landing  centres,  construction  of  Ice  Plants/Cold  Storages,  Fish  Retail  Markets,  Fish Kiosks, fish  transportation facilities like Refrigerated Vehicles, Insulated Vehicles, Live fish vending centres, Motorcycle with ice boxes, Cycle with ice boxes, Three-wheelers with  ice  boxes,  value  added  enterprise,  Mobile  eco-friendly  fish  kiosk.  In  addition, communication devices including transponders, providing boats and nets to traditional fishermen, safety-kits to fishers, livelihood and nutritional support to fishers during fishing ban/lean period, insurance coverage have also been approved to Karnataka. Further, as on date a total 14,933 KCC cards have been issued to fishers and fish farmers in Karnataka for fisheries for meeting the short-term credit requirement of fishers and fish farmers.

The  details  of  central  financial  assistance  provided  by  DoF,  GoI  under  PMMSY  to Government of Karnataka along with funds allocated, disbursed and utilized, year-wise during the last five years towards holistic development of fisheries sector are as below:

(Rs. In lakhs)

| Financial Year   |   Total Project Cost |   Central funds approved/ allocated |   Central funds released | Central utilized   | funds    |
|------------------|----------------------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------|----------|
| 2020-21          |             16423.9  |                             5033.4  |                  6235.3  | 6235.30            |          |
| 2021-22          |             23095.6  |                             7136.14 |                  9884.43 |                    | 9884.43  |
| 2022-23          |             38459.6  |                            13054.3  |                  6608    |                    | 4449.59  |
| 2023-24          |             23204.9  |                             9775.83 |                  2981.36 |                    | 2981.36  |
| 2024-25          |              4714.09 |                             1614.25 |                  3793.06 |                    | 3793.06  |
| Total            |            105898    |                            36613.9  |                 29502.2  |                    | 27343.74 |

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