Lok Sabha Question No. 4192 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: Modernization of Fisheries Sector
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar, Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4192 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th  AUGUST, 2025

## Modernization of Fisheries Sector

## 4192.   Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar: Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  modernize  the  fisheries  sector  with  improved infrastructure and if so, the timeline and budget allocation for upgrading fishing harbors, cold chains and storage facilities;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  impact  of  climate  change  such  as  rising  sea temperatures and erratic monsoons on fish migration and breeding;
- (c) the strategies have been implemented by the Government during the last two years;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to prevent Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in Indian waters;
- (e) whether the Government has worked with international bodies to tackle cross-border violations and if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether the Government has any plans to provide credit and insurance access for small scale and artisanal fishermen;
- (g) the percentage of fishing households currently benefitted from such schemes; and
- (h) whether  women  in  fishing  communities  are  receiving  targeted  support  through  training, cooperatives, or credit schemes and if so, the plans of the Government to promote gender equity in fisheries?

## 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 with effect from the financial year 2020-21 has been implementing a flagship scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Matsya  Sampada  Yojana'  (PMMSY)  to  bring  about  Blue  Revolution  through  sustainable  and responsible development of fisheries sector and welfare of fishermen in all States/Union Territories with an investment of Rs.20,050 crore for a period from 2020-21 to 2025-26.The PMMSY, inter alia provides support for creation of modern post-harvest infrastructures such as cold storages, ice plants, fish transportation vehicles including refrigerated and insulated vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles  and  auto  rickshaws  with  ice/fish  holding  boxes,  marketing,  fish  market  infrastructure facilities  and  development/modernisation  of  Fishing  Harbours.  In  addition,  the  Fisheries  & Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) implemented by the department provides concessional  finance  to  the  Eligible  Entities  (EEs),  including  the  State  Governments/Union Territories for development of identified fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure facilities.

During the last five years (FY2020-21 to FY2024-25), 734 cold storages and ice plants, 27,301 units of fish transportation facilities such as 10924 motorcycles with ice boxes, 9412 bicycles with ice  boxes,  3915 auto rickshaws, 1265 Live fish Vending units, 1406 insulated trucks and 379 refrigerated trucks, 6410 fish Kiosks, 202 fish retail fish markets, 21 wholesale fish markets have been  sanctioned  under  PMMSY  in  all  the  States  and  Union  Territories  at  a  total  outlay  of Rs.2375.25 crore. Further, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India during the last 11 years  has  sanctioned  the  proposals  of  various  Coastal  State  Governments  and  UTs  for development of a total 117 fishing harbours/fish landing centres at a cost of Rs 9832 Crore under various Central schemesviz. Blue Revolution, FIDF and PMMSY.

(b) and (c):  The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, has not received any report on the impact of climate change, such as rising temperature and erratic monsoon on fish migration and  breeding.  However,  the  fisheries  research  institutes  under  the  aegis  of  Indian  Council  of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Government of India, have been conducting research regularly for understanding  the  interactions  between  climatic  parameters  and  fisheries  in  order  to  develop mitigation and adaptation strategies. The ICAR has informed that the studies under the National Innovation in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) indicates the climate change is affecting the fisheries with impacts on fish habitats, physiology of fishes, fish distribution and breeding cycles.

The  PMMSY  programmes  contribute  to  climate  change  adaptation  and  mitigation  through promotion of sustainable fishing practices, eco-friendly aquaculture methods, resilient infrastructure,  and  conservation  of  marine  ecosystems.  It  emphasizes  reducing  environmental impacts, enhancing resource efficiency, and fostering climate-resilient livelihoods for fishers and fish farmers. Development of artificial reefs along the coastal waters and sea and river ranching programmes are done to restore native fish stocks in these waters and enhance the ecosystem. These  efforts  aim  to  protect  biodiversity,  enhance  productivity,  and  secure  fisher  livelihoods against  climate  change  threats.  Additionally,  under  PMMSY,  the  Department  have  taken  a transformative initiative to develop existing 100 Coastal Fishermen Villages(CFV) situated close to  the  coastline  in  all  costal  States  and  Union  Territories(UTs)  as  Climate  Resilient  Coastal Fishermen Villages(CRCFV) and to make them as economically vibrant fishermen villages. Under this,  100  villages  have  been  identified  based  on  the  guidelines,  jointly  with  the  respective states/UTs.

(d) and  (e) :  The  Government  of  India  has  implemented  several  measures  to  combat  Illegal, Unreported,  and  Unregulated  (IUU)  fishing.  These  steps  include  empowering  enforcement agencies, establishing regulatory frameworks, and utilizing technology to monitor fishing vessels. A robust regulatory framework is in place to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by both foreign and domestic vessels. The Indian Coast Guard, empowered under the Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act, 1981, plays a key role in preventing illegal fishing in national waters. Additionally, Maritime States and Union Territories enforce their respective Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs), which authorize local agencies to regulate, monitor, and control fishing activities within their jurisdictions.

Additionally, technology is leveraged to strengthen surveillance and monitoring of fishing activities. The MFRAs mandates online registration and licensing of fishing vessels through the ReALCraft portal, while Biometric Identity Cards are issued to marine fishers for secure identification. Under erstwhile  Blue  Revolution  scheme  and  in  the  ongoing  PMMSY,  the  government  supported deployment of communication and tracking devices such as VHF, DAT, NAVIC, and transponders. A National Rollout Plan under PMMSY aims to equip 100,000 mechanized and motorized vessels with transponders developed with ISRO and NSIL support to enhance monitoring, control, and surveillance, and to alert fishers against crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). These devices are provided free of cost to the fishing vessels, with funding shared by the central and state governments.

India is a party to various international treaties and engages with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations  (RFMOs)  to  promote  sustainable  fishing  and  combat  Illegal,  Unreported,  and Unregulated  (IUU)  fishing.  India  signed  Memoranda  of  Understanding  (MoUs)  with  multiple countries,  which  inter-alia  includes  bilateral  discussions  on  cross-border  fisheries  issues. Additionally,  India  hosts  the  Bay  of  Bengal  Programme  an  Inter-governmental  Organisation (BoBP-IGO), a regional fisheries body comprising India, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, focused on cooperation, technical support, and livelihood enhancement for small-scale fisherfolk.

(f) and (g) :  The Government, through various schemes and initiatives under the Department of Fisheries, has been facilitating access to institutional credit coverage for small-scale and artisanal fishermen. This includes enabling them to avail institutional credit, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing a flagship scheme namely 'Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)' with highest ever investment of ₹20,050 crore in fisheries sector for a robust fisheries management framework and fishers' welfare in all the States and Union Territories. Further, in the year 2018-19, the Government of India extended the facility of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to the fishers and fish farmers to meet their working capital requirements.

In  addition,  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Kisan  Samridhi  Sah-Yojana  (PM-MKSSY)  under  its component provides for one-time incentive for purchase of aquaculture insurance by the farmers. Further, the SC/ST and women beneficiaries get an additional 10% of incentive. Besides, , the National  Fisheries  Digital  Platform  (NFDP)  has  been  established  under  the  PM-MKSSY  and Stakeholders in fisheries and aquaculture can obtain digital work-based identities by registering on the NFDP, allowing them to access various benefits associated with PM-MKSSY including aquaculture insurance.

Besides, Group Accidental Insurance Coverage of Rs.5.00 lakh against death or permanent total disability,  Rs.  2.50  lakh  against permanent partial disability  and Rs. 25,000 against accidental hospitalization in the age group of 18 to 70 years are also provided to fishermen under the ongoing PMMSY.

(h)    The Government has been implementing several initiatives to promote women's participation in  fisheries  and  allied  activities.  Under  the Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY), Governmental assistance of 60% of unit cost is provided to women beneficiaries against the 40% to other stakeholders.  This  is  done  with  an  aim  of  promoting women's  participation  in  fisheries.  Further, targeted  support  is  extended  to  women  beneficiaries  through  capacity-building  programmes, training, skill development initiatives, as well as assistance for forming and strengthening womenled cooperatives, self-help groups, and producer groups. Women are also eligible for concessional credit facilities, including through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme.

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