Lok Sabha Question No. 5281 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Deep Sea Fishing Vessels
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dr. C M Ramesh

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5281 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  MARCH, 2026

## Deep Sea Fishing Vessels

## 5281. Dr. C M Ramesh :

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

(a) whether Government has sanctioned deep sea fishing vessels have been sanctioned to Andhra Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY);

(b) the number of vessels sanctioned, operationalised and pending in the State;

(c) whether infrastructure such as harbours, cold storage, processing units and export facilities have been strengthened along the Andhra Pradesh coastline;

(d) whether any skill development and safety training programmes have been conducted for deep sea fishers; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to enhance value addition and export earnings from marine fisheries in Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a) and (b) : Considering the scope for harnessing deep-sea fisheries resources in the Indian EEZ and High Seas and the recommendations of the National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017, the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of India is providing financial assistance to traditional fishermen for acquisition of Deep Sea Fishing Vessels (DSFVs) under the 'Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana' (PMMSY) at the rate of 40% subsidy for General Category and 60% subsidy for SC/ST/Women beneficiaries in the country including the State of Andhra Pradesh. Under PMMSY, the  DoF,  Government of  India,  has  sanctioned  50  DSFVs  to  the  State  of  Andhra  Pradesh.  As reported by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, 6 DSFVs are currently operational in the State.

(c)  Under  PMMSY,  the  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and Dairying (MoFAH&D), Government of India, has approved proposals submitted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh amounting to ₹2,416.92 crore, including a Central share of ₹569.86 crore, for implementation of various fisheries -related activities such as development of fishing harbours, fish landing centres, cold storage facilities, and value -addition units. Approval has been accorded for the  construction  of  three  fishing  harbours  at  Budagatlapalem  (Srikakulam  district),  Pudimadaka (Anakapalli  district),  and  Kothapatnam  (Prakasam  district)  at  a  total  cost  of  ₹1,137.20  crore. Additional  activities,  including  cold  storage,  processing  units,  and  export -oriented  infrastructure, have also been sanctioned under PMMSY; details thereof are provided in the Annexure.

(d)  Under  the  Training,  Awareness,  Exposure  and  Capacity  Building  component  of  the  Central Sector scheme of PMMSY, the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) serves as the Nodal Agency for implementing the training programmes. This component places special emphasis on enhancing the skills, awareness, and capacity of fishers, fish farmers, fish workers/vendors, and fisheries officials across all coastal States and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh.

As part of this initiative, NFDB, in collaboration with the Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical & Engineering Training (CIFNET), conducts exclusive training programmes for marine fishermen on deep -sea fishing and on -board fish handling. A total of 8,040 fishermen have been trained under these  programmes,  including  874  fishers  from  Andhra  Pradesh,  thereby  strengthening  India's capacity in deep -sea fishing operations.

In addition, the Fishery Survey of India (FSI), under the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, has conducted skill -development and capacity -building programmes to promote the adoption of  deep -sea fishing technologies, with particular  focus  on  deep -sea tuna longlining  and sashimi -grade tuna handling. These programmes provide hands -on training onboard FSI survey vessels, covering monofilament longline operations (setting and hauling), gear configuration, and efficient deck management. Structured modules also include deep -sea navigation, use of modern navigational aids (GPS, echo sounders, AIS), watch -keeping practices, and safety at sea, including life -saving appliances and firefighting equipment

(e) PMMSY places strong emphasis on value addition and export enhancement through improved post -harvest infrastructure, promotion of fish value -added enterprises, and reduction of post -harvest losses.   The Government of India continues to engage closely with the stakeholders to assess evolving  global  market  conditions  and  is  pursuing  a  comprehensive  strategy  to  expand  India's fisheries export footprint. This strategy includes sustained engagement with major markets like the United  States  towards  a  mutually  beneficial  India-U.S.  Bilateral  Trade  Agreement;  immediate support measures such as RBI's trade -related interventions and the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters; enhancement of domestic demand through next -generation GST reforms; and targeted export -promotion initiatives under the newly launched Export Promotion Mission.

The Government is also negotiating new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and strengthening the utilisation of existing FTAs to improve market access for Indian seafood products. In parallel, the Department of Fisheries has undertaken extensive stakeholder consultations and strategic outreach efforts, including Investors' Meets in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, the Coastal States Fisheries Meet, Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Meet, Seafood Exporters Meet, and World Fisheries Day events, with a strong focus on enhancing value addition in seafood exports.

A Round Table Conference with Ambassadors and High Commissioners from 39 countries was convened to promote Indian seafood exports, deepen diplomatic engagement, foster collaboration on  sustainable  fisheries,  and  advance  technological  innovation  in  fisheries  and  aquaculture. Bilateral  engagements  with  major  importing  nations  are  also  being  actively  pursued  to  further strengthen market access.

To enhance global competitiveness, the Government is facilitating ease of doing business through regulatory reforms and streamlined import procedures. Additionally, the Marine Products Export Development  Authority  (MPEDA),  under  the  Department  of  Commerce,  continues  to  promote marine product exports through participation in international seafood trade fairs and exhibitions, buyer-seller meets, branding and promotion of Indian shrimp, and a range of export -facilitation measures  aimed  at  expanding  market  access  and  ensuring  stable  global  demand  for  Indian seafood.

*****

## Annexure

Statement referred to in reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5281 regarding Deep Sea Fishing Vessels for answer on 24 th  March, 2026 - Details of cold storage, processing units and export facilities approved in Andhra Pradesh under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY):

(Rs in Lakh)

| Sl No.   | Activities                                                              | Units approved   | Total Project Cost   | Central Share   |
|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|----------------------|-----------------|
| (i)      | (ii)                                                                    | (iii)            | (iv)                 | (v)             |
| 1.       | Construction of Cold Storages/Ice Plants (10 tons/day capacity)         | 10               | 400.00               | 115.20          |
| 2.       | Construction of Cold Storages/Ice Plants (20 tons/day)                  | 1                | 80.00                | 19.20           |
| 3.       | Construction of Cold Storages/Ice Plants (30 tons/day)                  | 1                | 120.00               | 43.20           |
| 4.       | Construction of Cold Storages/Ice Plants (50 tons/day)                  | 4                | 600.00               | 162.00          |
| 5.       | Fish Value Add Enterprises Units                                        | 25               | 1250.00              | 360.00          |
| 6.       | E-platform for e-trading and e-marketing of fish and fisheries products | 1                | 100.00               | 24.00           |
| 7.       | Modern Integrated Fish landing centres                                  | 6                | 12691.32             | 7614.79         |
|          | Total                                                                   |                  | 15241.32             | 8338.39         |