Lok Sabha Question No. 354 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure  in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Tharaniventhan M S

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 354 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  DECEMBER, 2025

## Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure in Tamil Nadu

## 354. Shri Tharaniventhan M S:

Will the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying be pleased to state:

(a) the current status of fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure including the number of harbours, landing centres, cold storage facilities and processing units especially in Tamil Nadu;

(b) the  funds  allocated,  released  and  utilized  for  the  development  of  fisheries  and aquaculture infrastructure in Tamil Nadu during the last five years;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that small-scale and artisanal fishermen in remote and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu have access to modern infrastructure, credit and technical support;

(d) the measures being implemented by the Government to promote sustainable fishing practices,  increase  fish  production,  and  improve  market  access  for  fish  and  aquaculture products in Tamil Nadu; and

(e) whether the Government has any plans to introduce any reforms, expansions or new schemes to further strengthen fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a):  The development and modernisation of infrastructure has been accorded high priority under the schemes implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India. Approvals have been granted for 116 fishing harbours and fish landing centres at a cost of ₹9,558.91 crore. This modernization is linked to the expansion of nationwide logistics and market infrastructure. India's fisheries value chain currently includes 532 pre-processing units, 230 handling centers, 683 processing plants, 6,410 kiosks, 202 retail markets, and 21 wholesale markets. Collectively, these  facilities  have  modernized  fish  handling  and  distribution,  supported  by  a  cumulative investment of ₹3,254 crore over the past five years.

To enhance production and productivity, over 75,000 modern production units such as biofloc, RAS, raceways, and cage culture systems have been supported, and nearly 34,000 hectares of additional area brought under aquaculture. Under FIDF, 132 proposals worth ₹5,794.09 crore have been approved, including 22 fishing harbours and 24 landing centres. The Fund has been extended till FY 2025-26 and strengthened through a Credit Guarantee mechanism covering 25% of investment for private entities and cooperatives. To strengthen brood stock and seed availability, a robust network of 31 brood banks and 1,453 hatcheries is being established, while initiatives for genetic improvement of commercially important species, including scampi, trout, pearl  spot  and  shrimp,  are  underway.  The  Fisheries  Cluster  Development  Programme  is promoting integrated production and processing clusters in areas such as pearls, ornamental fish, tuna and seaweed. Eleven integrated Aqua Parks with an investment of ₹682.6 crore, along with a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu with an investment of ₹127.71 crore, are being grounded to support seaweed processing and its farming.

Currently, there are 15 number of Fishing harbours, 148 Fish landing centres, 243 Ice Plants, 38  Cold  Storages  and  60  processing  units  have  been  established  as  part  of  fisheries  and aquaculture infrastructure in Tamil Nadu. (b): Towards development of fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure of 62 projects approved in Tamil Nadu during last five years (2020-2025), a sum of fund of Rs.1094.8 crore has been sanctioned, and Rs. 797.23 crore has already been released to the state government of Tamil Nadu. (c):  The  Government  of  India  has  taken  several  steps  to  facilitate  access  to  modern infrastructure, credit, and technical support to the small-scale and artisanal fishermen in remote and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu such as extension of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to smallscale  and  artisanal  fishermen  to  meet  their  working  capital  requirements,  development  of fisheries infrastructure such as fishing harbours, fish landing centres, aqua parks, fish markets, processing units, cold storages, etc. Besides, skill and capacity development trainings are also provided to the fishermen in addition to technical support extended by the experts and scientists from various R&D institutions. (d):  The  Department  of Fisheries, Government of India has taken several steps to promote sustainable fishing practices, increasing fish production, and improving market access for fish and aquaculture products in Tamil Nadu such as installation of Artificial reefs along Tamil Nadu coast,  implementation  of  mesh-size  regulation  under  state  MFR  Act,  no  fishing  zone,  gear restriction,  ban  on  destruction  fishing  methods  etc.,  Besides,  diversification  of  trawling  into deep-sea fishing using eco-friendly selective fishing gears like gill net, long line and motorisation of country crafts have been promoted in the Marine Fisheries. In addition, advance fingerlings were stocked in major rivers of Tamil Nadu, Stocking of fish seeds in Panchayat tanks and providing fish seeds and fishing implements to fish farmers, establishment of Fish Markets and assistance for Fish Kiosk, insulated and refrigerated vehicle, live fish vending units, two / three wheeler with ice box are supported to facilitate market access and increase in fish production in Tamil Nadu.

(e):  The  Government  of  India  has  supported  the  State  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  through various schemes and programs to strengthen fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure based on the  proposals  received  from  the  State  Government  from  time  to  time.  Highest  numbers  of fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure projects have been approved and sanctioned under the FIDF to the State Government of Tamil Nadu.

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