Lok Sabha Question No. 1796 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Coastal Fisher Folk in Kerala
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri N K Premachandran

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1796 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## Coastal Fisher Folk in Kerala

## 1796. Shri N K Premachandran:

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

- (a) whether the Government addressed the major issue of coastal fisher folk in Kerala due to reduced fish catches especially of traditional species and if so, the details of action taken thereon;
- (b) whether the Government has initiated any action in request of the Kerala fisher folk to reduce the price of kerosene and give subsidy and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government considered the request of coastal population from Kollam to drop the proposal of offshore mining so as to protect the marine ecosystem and provide livelihood to the fisher folk and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes any special programme to State of Kerala to provide adequate landing centres, cold chain system, value addition units, safe docking and affordable storage persist and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, through its schemes, policies and programmes has taken up several initiatives towards holistic development of fisheries including  strengthening  the  livelihood  of  fishers.  Under  the  flagship  scheme  Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implemented by the Department, during last 5 years and current year fisheries developmental projects amounting to Rs. 1418.51 crore has been approved to Kerala. The approved activities inter-alia include support towards deep sea fishing vessels (20 Nos), installation of artificial reefs along the coast for stock rejuvenation(42 Nos), alternate/additional livelihood activities like bivalve cultivation(1140 Nos), biofloc  units(780  Nos),  Re-Circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS)  (708 Nos). In terms of welfare, livelihood support to fishers during fish ban (1,71,033 Nos) has been approved  to  Kerala.  In  addition,  establishment  of  Integrated  Modern  Coastal  Fishing Villages (09 Nos), Climate Resilient Coastal Villages (06 Nos), extension support services -Matsya Seva Kendras (10 Nos) and Sagar Mitras (222 Nos) are also approved to Kerala for strengthening the coastal fisheries and infrastructure in the region.

Further, uniform fishing ban is implemented for a period of 61 days, from 15th April to 14th June on the East Coast and from 1st June to 31st July on the West Coast in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for rejuvenation of fish stock. The DoF, GoI has also issued orders to prohibit destructive fishing practices like bull or pair trawling and use of artificial lights/LED lights for fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and similar prohibitions are also imposed within territorial waters by the coastal States/UTs including Kerala such as Minimum Legal Size (MLS) of fish species, mesh size and fishing gear regulations, etc. (b): The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) being the nodal Ministry in the subject  matter  has  informed  that  the  Government  of  India  has  formulated  the  Public Distribution Superior Kerosene Oil (PDS SKO) Allocation Policy under which government makes allocation of PDS Kerosene States/UTs on quarterly basis for cooking & lighting and  for  special  needs  (fisheries,  mela,  exhibitions,  pandemic,  calamity  etc.).  Further distribution of PDS Kerosene within the State/UT under PDS network is carried out by the concerned State/UT. Scale and criteria of the distribution is accordingly, also decided by the respective State/UT. Further, with effect from 1st March, 2020, the retail selling price of PDS kerosene is being maintained at a NIL under-recovery level on a pan-India basis. (c): As informed by the Ministry of Mines, the Offshore Areas Mineral and Development Act, 2002, and the Rules framed thereunder, namely, Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024 and Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024 are having the provisions to ensure the environment protection and preventing any adverse impacts on the marine ecosystem. (d): Under PMMSY, providing safe landing and berthing facility and strengthening of postharvest infrastructure including cold chain facilities are one of the priority activities. During last 5 years and current year under PMMSY, various infrastructure projects in this line have been approved to Kerala which includes expansion/upgradation of fishing harbors (7  Nos),  maintenance  dredging  of  existing  harbors  (6Nos),  establishment  of  ice plants/cold storages(16 Nos), transport vehicles for enhancing the shelf life of fishes(468 Nos), whole sale fish markets (2 Nos), retail market (5 Nos), fish kiosk (90 Nos), live fish

vending centres (77 Nos), Value added enterprise units(10 Nos).

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