Lok Sabha Question No. 289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Safety of Fishermen
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Navaskani K

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 289 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 ND  DECEMBER, 2025

## Safety of Fishermen

## 289. Shri.  Navaskani K:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  special  scheme  to  enhance  the safety of fishermen;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  assist  fishermen  affected  by natural calamities and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to provide relief to fishermen who are affected by  the  coastal  authorities  or  forces  of  neighbouring  countries,  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

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

(a)  to  (c):  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and Dairying, Government of India accords paramount importance to safety and security of fishermen  at  sea  and  provides  financial  assistance  under  its  various  schemes  and programmes.  Under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY),  the Department of Fisheries, Government of India provides financial assistance to the State Governments and Union Territories(UTs) for providing (i) safety kits consisting of GPS, life jacket, lifebuoy and other life-saving appliances, radar reflector, first-aid box, a set of flares,  backup  battery,  search  &  rescue  beacons  etc.,  to  fishermen  of  traditional  and motorized fishing vessels,  (ii) communication and tracking devices onboard the fishing vessels,  (iii)  Potential  Fishing  Zone  (PFZ)  devices  etc.,  to  ensure  safety  of  fishermen during  fishing  at  sea  and  adverse  climatic  conditions.  The  Department  of  Fisheries, Government of India during the last five years (FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25) has approved the  proposals  of  various  Coastal  States  &  UTs  for  supply  of  14,300  communication devices to marine fishermen at a total cost of Rs 50.05 crore under PMMSY.

PMMSY inter-alia provides insurance cover to fishers against death and disabilities and insurance premium subvention for insurance of fishing vessels. The insurance coverage provided to fishers includes (i) Rs.5.00 lakh against death or permanent total disability, (ii) Rs. 2.50 lakh against permanent partial disability and  (iii) coverage for hospitalization expenses of Rs. 25,000/-. The insurance premium subvention for  insurance of fishing vessels  to  cover  the  damage  of  hull,  machinery,  accessories  including  fishing  nets, collision liability, total loss, partial loss, and losses caused by Natural Calamities. During the last three years (2021-22 to 2023-24) and current financial year (2024-25), insurance coverage to a total 131.30 lakh fishers with an average of 32.82 lakh fishers annually has been provided under PMMSY . The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying, Government  of  India  has  approved  another  proposal  on  National  Rollout  of  Vessel Communication and Support System (NRVCSS) at a total cost of Rs. 364 Crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for installation of transponders onboard the fishing vessels in all coastal States and UTs. The transponders are being fitted to cover a total one lakh fishing vessels with 100% Governmental assistance. The transponders  have  geo-fencing  features  and  give alerts to  the  fishermen  upon approaching to or crossing over the maritime boundary so as to prevent such incidences of crossing the maritime boundary. Under the NRVCSS projects, so far, a total 45051 transponders  have  been  installed  on  board  the  marine  fishing  vessels,  this  including 3,884 transponders in Tamil Nadu which were installed under Blue Revolution scheme Besides,  the  Fisheries  Department  of  coastal  States/UTs  in  coordination  with  Indian Coast Guard are regularly conducting the community interaction programs (CIPs) with the fishermen to appraise them the importance of safety of life at sea, carriage of life saving equipment, usage of portable communication sets and are also impressed not to

cross the maritime boundary.

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