Lok Sabha Question No. 388 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Fisheries Infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Suresh Kumar Kashyap

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 388 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND JULY, 2025

## Fisheries Infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh

## 388. SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP:

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

- (a) the details of the initiatives being implemented for augmenting fisheries infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana(PMMSY);
- (b) the list of the initiatives on which the Government is working to improve employment opportunities in the fisheries sector in the Himachal Pradesh;
- (c) the details of the steps taken by the Government to expand Organic Fish Clusters like Himachal Pradesh; and
- (d) the manner in which the Government is supporting fisheries cooperatives and startups in Himachal Pradesh under the PMMSY?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and (b): The Department of Fisheries, Government of India with effect from the FY202021  has  been  implementing  a  flagship  scheme  'Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana (PMMSY)' with an investment of ₹20,050 crore in all States and Union Territories including in the State  of  Himachal  Pradesh.  Under  PMMSY,  based  on  project  proposals  received  from  the Government of Himachal Pradesh, fisheries development projects amounting to ₹15,450.52 lakh with a central share of ₹7,921.83 lakh have been approved. The initiatives implemented in the State for  augmenting  fisheries  infrastructure  include  establishment  of  Biofloc  units,  Re-circulating Aquaculture  Systems(RAS),  fish  kiosks,  ice  plants,  cold  storages,  feed  mills,  trout  and  carp hatcheries, trout raceways, backyard ornamental units, brood banks, live fish vending centres, and recreational  fisheries  units,  among  others.  In  addition,  under  the  Fisheries  and  Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) implemented since 2018-19 with a fund size of ₹7,522.48 crore, a  proposal of Government of Himachal Pradesh for 'Establishment of a State-of-the-Art Fisheries Training Centre at Gagret, District Una' , at a cost of ₹5.17 crore has also been approved. The infrastructure, fish culture units and other initiatives implemented in Himachal Pradesh such as  pond  farming,  trout  culture  in  raceways,  fish  seed  production  in  hatcheries,  ornamental  fish production,  fish  transportation  facilities  like  motorcycles  and  three-wheelers  with  ice  boxes, refrigerated vehicles, cold chain and fish marketing facilities, boats and fishing nets provided to fishermen and recreational fisheries are also attributed towards generation of direct and indirect employment opportunities in the State.

(c): The  Government  of  Himachal  Pradesh  has  reported  that  the  fish  culture  is  primarily undertaken through organic methods in both warm and cold water ecosystems. To promote and strengthen organic and coldwater fisheries in the State, the Government of India has initiated to establish  a  Coldwater  Fisheries  Cluster  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana (PMMSY). Under this initiative, District Kullu has been identified as the Lead District and district Mandi as the Partner District to develop the notified cold water fisheries cluster in accordance with the provisions and guidelines laid down under the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued for clusters development under PMMSY.

(d): The  Government  of  India  has  been  supporting  the  development  and  strengthening  of fisheries cooperatives in the State of Himachal Pradesh, particularly in the reservoir fisheries sector. The various forms of financial assistance has been provided to the members of fish cooperative societies support for procurement of fishing nets and provision of close season assistance. Under the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY),  registered  reservoir  fishermen  are provided with the close season assistance of ₹4,500 per annum, of which ₹2,400 per annum per beneficiary is  provided by the Central Government.  The Government of Himachal Pradesh has reported that over the last three years (2022-23 to 2024-25), a total of 10,151 beneficiaries have been covered in major reservoirs such as Gobind Sagar, Koldam, Pong Dam, Chamera, and Ranjit Sagar (Thein Dam), with cumulative financial assistance amounting to ₹2.44 crore under PMMSY. In addition, the Government of India, through the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), is supporting newly constituted four fisheries cooperative societies in Himachal Pradesh with a total financial assistance of ₹12.00 lakh (₹3.00 lakh per society).

*****