Lok Sabha Question No. 1527 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: Deep Sea Fishing Vessels
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Shri Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy, Shri Avimanyu Sethi

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1527 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09 th  December, 2025

## Deep Sea Fishing Vessels

1527.  Shri Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy;

Shri Avimanyu Sethi;

Shri Manguta Sreenivasulu Reddy:

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

- (a) the details regarding the total number of deep sea fishing vessels presently working across the country State-wise and especially along the coast of Andhra Pradesh,
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any study/survey to increase the number of deep sea fishing vessels operating in the country:
- (c) if so, the details regarding the list of initiatives, schemes and programs proposed, under consideration and presently implemented for development of deep-sea fishing in the country;
- (d)  the  details  regarding  the  total  amount  of  fund  allocated,  released  and  utilised  for  the implementation of such schemes during the last five years, State-wise, especially in Andhra Pradesh;
- (e) the details regarding the number of beneficiaries of such schemes during the last five years especially in Andhra Pradesh;
- (f) whether the Government has undertaken any steps to increase awareness regarding the use and functioning of Deep Sea Fishing vessels in India, if so, the details thereof, especially in Andhra Pradesh, and
- (g) whether the Government has any proposal to extent or prioritise cooperative led deep sea fishing initiatives, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FPPO) support and marine infrastructure development in Odisha especially in Bhadrak and Balasore districts and if so, the details of projects, fundings and time by which these regions are likely to be proposed?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (g): As estimated by the Expert Committee constituted for Revalidation of Potential Yield of Fishery Resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the potential yield (PY) of India's EEZ is 53.1 lakh tons, out of which potential yield of oceanic/deep-sea resources (beyond 500 m depth zone) is 2.31 lakh tons. Presently, India is harnessing 44.95 lakh tones (2023-24) of marine fishery resources including Deep Sea Fishery resources. This production is below the potential yield of 53.1 lakh tons of marine fishery resources in Indian EEZ. The National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017 inter-alia envisages introduction of new scheme(s) for enhancing the skills and capabilities of the traditional fishermen to undertake, popularize and promote  deep-sea  fishing,  introduction  of  indigenous  deep-sea  fishing  vessels  through fishermen  cooperatives/self-help  groups,  on-board  training  and  linkages  to  markets  and exports. Considering the scope for harnessing of 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, Government of India in March, 2017 introduced a sub-component to provide support to traditional fishermen for acquisition of Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels (DSFVs) under its Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on 'Blue Revolution'.

The  financial  assistance  to  traditional  fishermen  for  acquisition  of  DSFVs  has  also  been continued 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. Support for DSFVs is also provided by the DoF, GoI, under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). Under the schemes of Blue Revolution, PMMSY, and FIDF, a total of  Rs.  895.9  crore  worth  of  projects  have  been  sanctioned  towards  the  acquisition  of  1243 DSFVs by traditional  fishers  and  for  the  upgradation  or  conversion  of  1330  existing  fishing vessels for export competency. The State-wise details of projects approved for DSFVs under schemes implemented by Department of Fisheries, Government of India, including for Andhra Pradesh is furnished at Annexure.

Under the component of 'Training, Awareness, Exposure and Capacity Building', in Central sector scheme of PMMSY, the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) is designated as the  Nodal  agency  for  implementing  the  training  component.  The  training  component  has  a special focus to train, create awareness, exposure and capacity building of fishers, fish farmers, fish workers/vendors and fisheries departmental officials of all coastal States and UTs including the State of Andhra Pradesh. Under this component, an exclusive training for marine fishermen on Deep Sea fishing, and on-board fish handling is conducted by NFBD in collaboration with Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical & Engineering Training (CIFNET) and MPEDA-Network for Fish Quality Management & Sustainable Fishing (NETFISH), a total  2705 fishermen have been trained through these programs for enhancing India's capacity building in Oceanic tuna fishery.

The  Government  of  India  has  taken  initiative  for  awareness  and  up-skilling  the  traditional fisherfolks across the coastal States and UTs including the State of Andhra Pradesh. The NFDB under Blue Revolution and PMMSY schemes has facilitated training for 5200 tradition fishermen for Capacity Building in Deep Sea Fishing Operation and Training on Onboard Handling of Tuna and skill development programmes in collaboration with CIFNET.

The  Department  of  Fisheries,  GoI  by  adopting  the  'whole  of  government  approach',  is collaborating with the Ministry of Cooperation through a Joint Working Group (JWG), with aim to promote small-scale fishermen in deep-sea fishing, its value-chain, processing and exports. The Ministry of Cooperation supports this initiative by strengthening cooperative institutions and facilitating access to cooperative credit through National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). It focuses on modernizing fishing fleets, promoting sustainable fishing, improving value chains and development of fishermen community by increasing fishermen income. Strengthening  of  such  cooperatives  are  supported  by  Ministry  of  Cooperation  and  credit accessibility  to  the  cooperative  are  provided  through  National  Cooperative  Development Corporation (NCDC). The Government is actively engaged to promote cooperatives in Deep Sea fishing activities in all coastal States and UTs including the State of Odisha.

Statement referred to in reply of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1527 regarding Deep Sea Fishing Vessels for answer on 9 th  December, 2025 - State-wise number of fishing vessels approved and funds allocated under Schemes of Government of India including for the State of Andhra Pradesh:

(i)  State/UT  wise  details  of  the  Deep  Sea  Fishing  Vessels  approved  under  the subcomponent 'Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing Vessels' of Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries during FY 2017-20

| Sr. No.   | States/UTs                  |   Deep Sea Fishing Boats (nos.) | Total Project Cost (Rs. in Lakhs)   | Funds Released by Government of India (Rs. in Lakhs)   |
|-----------|-----------------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | Andaman and Nicobar Islands |                              02 | 160.00                              | 32.95                                                  |
| 2.        | Andhra Pradesh              |                              12 | 960.00                              | 233.28                                                 |
| 3.        | Daman and Diu               |                              05 | 400.00                              | 144.00                                                 |
| 4.        | Gujarat                     |                             145 | 11,600.00                           | 2610.88                                                |
| 5.        | Odisha                      |                              04 | 320.00                              | 38.40                                                  |
| 6.        | Tamil Nadu                  |                             750 | 60,000.00                           | 28,150.00                                              |
|           | Total                       |                             918 | 73,440.00                           | 31209.51                                               |

(ii) State/ UT wise fund release under the subcomponent 'Conversion of Trawlers into Resource Specific Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels' of Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries between 2018-20: (Rs.in Lakh)

|   Sl. No. | State          |   Vessels for Upgradation (Nos.) |   Total Project Cost (Rs. in Lakhs) |   Funds Released by Government of India (Rs. in Lakhs) |
|-----------|----------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Andhra Pradesh |                               57 |                                 855 |                                                  427.5 |

(iii) State/UT wise projects approved under the subcomponent 'Support for acquisition of  Deep-Sea  Fishing  vessels  for  traditional  fishermen'  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya Sampada Yojana between 2020-25 (Till date)

| Sl. No.   | States/UTs          |   Deep sea Fishing Boats (nos.) |   Total estimated Cost (Rs. in Lakh) |   Government of India Share (Rs. in Lakh) |
|-----------|---------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | Andaman and Nicobar |                               6 |                                  720 |                                     336   |
| 2.        | Andhra Pradesh      |                              50 |                                 6000 |                                    1526.4 |
| 3.        | Gujarat             |                              50 |                                 6000 |                                    1857.6 |
| 4.        | Karnataka           |                             114 |                                13680 |                                    3542.4 |
| 5.        | Kerala              |                              20 |                                 2400 |                                     576   |
| 6.        | Lakshadweep         |                              10 |                                 1200 |                                     720   |
| 7.        | Maharashtra         |                              63 |                                 7560 |                                    2491.2 |
| 8.        | Puducherry          |                               9 |                                 1080 |                                     600   |
| Total     | Total               |                             322 |                                38640 |                                   11649.6 |

(iv) State/UT wise funds released under the subcomponent 'upgradation of existing fishing vessels for export competencies', of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana between 2020-25 (Till date).

| Sl. No.   | States/UTs          |   Deep sea Fishing Boats (nos.) |   Total estimated Cost (Rs. in Lakh) |   Government of India Share (Rs. in Lakh) |
|-----------|---------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| 1         | Andaman and Nicobar |                              10 |                               150    |                                     66    |
| 2         | Gujarat             |                             925 |                             13875    |                                   3690    |
| 3         | Goa                 |                              60 |                               900    |                                    248.4  |
| 4         | Karnataka           |                              15 |                               225    |                                     66.6  |
| 5         | Lakshadweep         |                              70 |                               344.63 |                                    206.78 |
| 6         | Maharashtra         |                              40 |                               600    |                                    171    |
| 7         | Odisha              |                             100 |                              1500    |                                    450    |
| 8         | West Bengal         |                              53 |                               795    |                                    214.2  |
| Total     | Total               |                            1273 |                             18389.6  |                                   5112.98 |