The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying with effect from the financial year 2020-21 has been implementing a flagship scheme “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana” (PMMSY) to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector and welfare of fishermen in all States/Union Territories with an investment of Rs.20,050 crore for a period from 2020-21 to 2025-26.The PMMSY, inter alia provides support for creation of modern post-harvest infrastructures such as cold storages, ice plants, fish transportation vehicles including refrigerated and insulated vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and auto rickshaws with ice/fish holding boxes, marketing, fish market infrastructure facilities and development/modernisation of Fishing Harbours. In addition, the Fisheries & Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) implemented by the department provides concessional finance to the Eligible Entities (EEs), including the State Governments/Union Territories for development of identified fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure facilities.

During the last five years (FY2020-21 to FY2024-25), 734 cold storages and ice plants, 27,301 units of fish transportation facilities such as 10924 motorcycles with ice boxes, 9412 bicycles with ice boxes, 3915 auto rickshaws, 1265 Live fish Vending units, 1406 insulated trucks and 379 refrigerated trucks, 6410 fish Kiosks, 202 fish retail fish markets, 21 wholesale fish markets have been sanctioned under PMMSY in all the States and Union Territories at a total outlay of Rs.2375.25 crore. Further, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India during the last 11 years has sanctioned the proposals of various Coastal State Governments and UTs for development of a total 117 fishing harbours/fish landing centres at a cost of Rs 9832 Crore under various Central schemesviz. Blue Revolution, FIDF and PMMSY.

The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, has not received any report on the impact of climate change, such as rising temperature and erratic monsoon on fish migration and breeding. However, the fisheries research institutes under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Government of India, have been conducting research regularly for understanding the interactions between climatic parameters and fisheries in order to develop mitigation and adaptation strategies. The ICAR has informed that the studies under the National Innovation in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) indicates the climate change is affecting the fisheries with impacts on fish habitats, physiology of fishes, fish distribution and breeding cycles.

The PMMSY programmes contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation through promotion of sustainable fishing practices, eco-friendly aquaculture methods, resilient infrastructure, and conservation of marine ecosystems. It emphasizes reducing environmental impacts, enhancing resource efficiency, and fostering climate-resilient livelihoods for fishers and fish farmers. Development of artificial reefs along the coastal waters and sea and river ranching programmes are done to restore native fish stocks in these waters and enhance the ecosystem. These efforts aim to protect biodiversity, enhance productivity, and secure fisher livelihoods against climate change threats. Additionally, under PMMSY, the Department have taken a transformative initiative to develop existing 100 Coastal Fishermen Villages(CFV) situated close to the coastline in all costal States and Union Territories(UTs) as Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages(CRCFV) and to make them as economically vibrant fishermen villages. Under this, 100 villages have been identified based on the guidelines, jointly with the respective states/UTs.

The Government of India has implemented several measures to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. These steps include empowering enforcement agencies, establishing regulatory frameworks, and utilizing technology to monitor fishing vessels. A robust regulatory framework is in place to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by both foreign and domestic vessels. The Indian Coast Guard, empowered under the Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act, 1981, plays a key role in preventing illegal fishing in national waters. Additionally, Maritime States and Union Territories enforce their respective Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs), which authorize local agencies to regulate, monitor, and control fishing activities within their jurisdictions.

Additionally, technology is leveraged to strengthen surveillance and monitoring of fishing activities. The MFRAs mandates online registration and licensing of fishing vessels through the ReALCraft portal, while Biometric Identity Cards are issued to marine fishers for secure identification. Under erstwhile Blue Revolution scheme and in the ongoing PMMSY, the government supported deployment of communication and tracking devices such as VHF, DAT, NAVIC, and transponders. A National Rollout Plan under PMMSY aims to equip 100,000 mechanized and motorized vessels with transponders developed with ISRO and NSIL support to enhance monitoring, control, and surveillance, and to alert fishers against crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). These devices are provided free of cost to the fishing vessels, with funding shared by the central and state governments.

India is a party to various international treaties and engages with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) to promote sustainable fishing and combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. India signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with multiple countries, which inter-alia includes bilateral discussions on cross-border fisheries issues. Additionally, India hosts the Bay of Bengal Programme an Inter-governmental Organisation (BoBP-IGO), a regional fisheries body comprising India, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, focused on cooperation, technical support, and livelihood enhancement for small-scale fisherfolk.

The Government, through various schemes and initiatives under the Department of Fisheries, has been facilitating access to institutional credit coverage for small-scale and artisanal fishermen. This includes enabling them to avail institutional credit, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing a flagship scheme namely “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)” with highest ever investment of ₹20,050 crore in fisheries sector for a robust fisheries management framework and fishers’ welfare in all the States and Union Territories. Further, in the year 2018-19, the Government of India extended the facility of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to the fishers and fish farmers to meet their working capital requirements.

In addition, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) under its component provides for one-time incentive for purchase of aquaculture insurance by the farmers. Further, the SC/ST and women beneficiaries get an additional 10% of incentive. Besides, , the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) has been established under the PM-MKSSY and  Stakeholders in fisheries and aquaculture can obtain digital work-based identities by registering on the NFDP, allowing them to access various benefits associated with PM-MKSSY including aquaculture insurance.

Besides, Group Accidental Insurance Coverage of Rs.5.00 lakh against death or permanent total disability, Rs. 2.50 lakh against permanent partial disability and Rs. 25,000 against accidental hospitalization in the age group of 18 to 70 years are also provided to fishermen under the ongoing PMMSY.

The Government has been implementing several initiatives to promote women’s participation in fisheries and allied activities. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Governmental assistance of 60% of unit cost is provided to women beneficiaries against the 40% to other stakeholders. This is done with an aim of promoting women’s participation in fisheries. Further, targeted support is extended to women beneficiaries through capacity-building programmes, training, skill development initiatives, as well as assistance for forming and strengthening women-led cooperatives, self-help groups, and producer groups. Women are also eligible for concessional credit facilities, including through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme.

This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri George Kurian, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 19th August, 2025.                                                                              

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(Release ID: 2157850)