Introduction

The fisheries and aquaculture sector plays a critical role in India’s economy, providing livelihoods to approximately 3 crore fishers and fish farmers while generating significant employment opportunities across the value chain. India is the world’s second-largest fish producer, contributing 8% to global output, ranks second in aquaculture production, leads in shrimp production and export, and is the second-largest producer in capture fisheries.

The Government of India has set in motion a series of transformative initiatives aimed at fostering the comprehensive development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector within the country. Over the years, there has been a significant upswing in central government investments dedicated to this sector. From the initiation of this endeavour in 2015, the cumulative investments, totalling an impressive Rs 38,572 Cr, have been approved or announced across various schemes namely Blue Revolution, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY).  Projects worth Rs. 32,723 crore have been approved since 2014-15.

In addition, Hon'ble PM launched Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan on 2nd October 2024. The Abhiyan comprises of 25 interventions implemented by 17-line Ministries including Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D) and aims to saturate infrastructural gaps and aims at Saturation through convergence and outreach. A total of 5,567.5 units have been approved under PMMSY amounting to ₹146.00 crore, including a Central share of ₹85.09 crore, State share of ₹46.98 crore and beneficiary contribution of ₹13.91 crore.

Announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) is designed to catalyse growth in 100 Agri Aspirational districts. The scheme ensures saturation-based convergence of 36 schemes from 11 ministries, benefiting 1.7 crore farmers directly including the Department of Fisheries schemes namely PMMSY, PMMKSSY and Kisan Credit Card for Fisheries Sector. The scheme aims to promote sustainable growth of the fisheries and aquaculture sector by enhancing production, productivity, and value creation. It seeks to improve incomes and livelihoods of fishers and fish farmers through risk mitigation, credit access, and expansion of aquaculture activities.

As a result of various schemes and programs being implemented in the last decade and well thought policies, there have been significant achievements strides in the fisheries sector

1. Fish production has increased to 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024-25 from 95.79 lakh tonnes fish production in FY 2013-14 increasing a significant 106%.
2. Average aquaculture productivity has increased to 4.77 tonnes per hectare
3. Indian seafood exports have witnessed an impressive growth as we exported 16.98 Lakh tons of seafood worth Rs ₹62,408 crore during 2023-24.
4. 7.43% of Agriculture GVA since 2014-15 Highest amongst Agri & Allied Sector

 

In addition to the schemes the department has also ensured financial inclusion and social safety net for fishers and fish farmers

5. Group Accidental Insurance coverage was provided to 34.71 lakh fishers with an investment of Rs.27.75 crore.
6. 4.49 lakh KCCs extended with a loan amount of Rs 3569.60 crore to meet the working capital needs of fishers and fish farmers.
7. Nutritional Support during fishing ban/lean period to 4.33 lakh fishers’ families annually with a total outlay of Rs 1681.21 crore.
8. Under various schemes and programs implemented since 2014-15 by the Department of Fisheries, GoI, 74.66 lakh employment opportunities (both direct and indirect) have been generated.

Major Achievements of 2025-26 under schemes and programs

1. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

 

1. Inland Fisheries: 52,058 Nos of cages, 23285.06 hectares of pond area for inland aquaculture, 12,081 Re-circulatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), 4,205 Biofloc units, 3159.31 hectares of pond area for Inland Saline-alkaline culture, 890 fish and 5 scampi hatcheries, 560.7 hectares pens in reservoirs and other waterbodies, and 25 brood banks have been approved.
2. Marine Fisheries: 2,259 Bio-toilets in mechanized fishing vessels, 1,525 of open sea cage for fish culture,1,338 up-gradation of existing fishing vessels, 1,580.86 hectares of pond area for brackish water aquaculture, 480 deep sea fishing vessel, 17 brackish water hatcheries and 5 Small Marine finfish hatcheries have been approved.
3. Fishermen Welfare: 6,706 replacement boats and nets for fishermen, 2,494 Sagar Mitras and 102 Matsya Seva Kendras approved.
4. Fisheries Infrastructure: 27,189 units of fish transportation facilities namely motorcycles (10,924), bicycles with ice box (9,412), auto rickshaws (3,860), insulated trucks (1,377), live fish vending centres (1,243), fish feed mill/plants (1091), ice plant/cold storages (634) and refrigerated vehicles (373). Additionally, 6,733 total units of fish retail markets (188) and fish kiosks including ornamental kiosks (6,896) and 128 value added enterprise units have been sanctioned.
5. Aquatic Health Management: 19 disease diagnostic centre and quality testing labs, 31 mobile centres and testing labs and 6 aquatic referral labs have been approved.
6. Ornamental Fisheries: 2,465 ornamental fish rearing units and 207 Integrated Ornamental fish units (breeding and rearing) have been approved.
7. Seaweed Cultivation: 47,245 rafts and 65,480 monoline tube net approved.
8. Development of Northeast Regions: Total Project cost of Rs 1722.79 crore have been approved with a central share of Rs 980.40 crore. This includes 7063.29 ha Construction of new ponds, 5063.11 ha area for Integrated Fish Farming, 644 Ornamental Fisheries units, 470 Biofloc units, 231 hatcheries, 148 Re-circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS) and 140 feed mills have been approved.
9. Outreach Activities: 12.63 Lakh training and capacity building programmes, 10.88 Lakh distribution of success stories, pamphlets, Brochures, booklets and outreach campaigns etc., 66.87 Lakh social media platforms and visit to Department of fisheries, NFDB, PMMSY, PMMKSSY & FIDF Websites.

 

2. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY):

 

1. Under Component 1A – Formalization of Fisheries Sector, NFDP has been operationalised with more than 28 lakh stakeholders registered, 12 banks onboarded, and 16,340 loan leads generated; 264 loans approved and 217 disbursed.
2. 5,086 cooperatives identified, 2,786 approved, and proposals received for 550 training programmes.
3. Under Component 1B - Adoption of Aquaculture Insurance, 3 insurers and products onboarded; 20,606 farmers covered over 365.15 ha, with incentives disbursed for 98.56 ha.
4. Under Component 2 - Supporting Fisheries Microenterprises, 258 Performance Grant applications received; 237 reviewed and 51 under field verification; proposals indicate ₹165.65 crore private investment.
5. Under Component 3 - Fish Safety and Quality Assurance Systems 71 applications received; 57 reviewed and 12 under verification; ₹143.67 crore private investment indicated; National Traceability Framework released.
6. Under Component 4 – Project Management, Monitoring and Reporting PMUs and consultants operational; ₹42.55 crore incurred on digital infrastructure, incentives, project management, and outreach.

 

3. Fisheries & Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)

 

1. Total 225 proposals with outlay of Rs. 6685.78 crore including Fishing Harbors, Fish Landing Centres and fish processing units have been approved under FIDF.
2. Sanctioned projects have mobilized an investment of Rs. 6685. 78 crore in the fisheries sector, out of which an amount of Rs. 754.50 crore has been mobilized by private enterprises.
3. The sanctioned projects include 29 Fishing Harbours & Including Additional Facilities in Fishing Harbours, 60 Fish Landing centres (FLCs) & Including Additional Facilities in FLCs, 10 processing plants/Units, 10 Ice plants/cold storage, 11 training centers, 33 modernizations of fish seed farms etc.
4. The completed projects created safe landing and berthing facilities for more than 8100 fishing vessels, enhancement of fish landing of 1.09 lakh tones, benefiting around 3.3 lakh fishers and other stakeholders and creation of 2.5 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities.

 

4. Kisan Credit Card (KCC): The Government of India with effect from the financial year 2018-19 has extended the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fishers and fish famers to help them to meet their working capital requirements. A total of 4.49 lakh KCCs with a loan amount of Rs 3569.60 crore has been sanctioned, till date to fishers and fish farmers.

 

5. Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA): The total project cost of to ₹146.00 crore approved, comprising a Central share of ₹85.09 crore, State share of ₹46.98 crore, and beneficiary contribution of ₹13.91 crore. Overall, 5,567.50 units/numbers have been approved under the scheme.

Key Initiatives

1. Notification of 34 Processing and Production Fisheries Clusters

The Department of Fisheries has adopted a cluster-based development model under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to promote competitiveness and organized growth in fisheries and aquaculture. So far, 34 clusters namely: Seaweed cluster in Lakshadweep, ornamental fisheries cluster in Tamil Nadu, pearl cluster in Jharkhand, tuna fisheries cluster in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, organic fisheries cluster in Sikkim, Coldwater fisheries cluster in Jammu & Kashmir, saline water aquaculture cluster in Haryana, reservoir fisheries cluster in Madhya Pradesh, tilapia cluster in Chhattisgarh, wetland fisheries cluster in Bihar, pangasius cluster in Uttar Pradesh, scampi cluster in Andhra Pradesh, brackish water aquaculture cluster in Karnataka, sea cage cluster in Telangana, Murrel cluster in Kerala, pearl spot cluster in Gujarat, saline water aquaculture cluster in Punjab, Coldwater fisheries cluster in Uttarakhand, dry fish cluster in West Bengal, fishing harbour cluster in Puducherry, integrated fish farming cluster in Nagaland, Pengba fish cluster in Manipur, riverine fisheries cluster in Assam, paddy cum fish cluster in Mizoram, aqua-tourism cluster in Arunachal Pradesh, Coldwater fisheries cluster in Ladakh, estuarine cage culture cluster in Goa, Coldwater fisheries cluster in Himachal Pradesh, Pabda fisheries cluster in Tripura, saline water aquaculture cluster in Rajasthan, fisheries cooperatives cluster in Maharashtra, fishing harbour cluster in Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, organic fish farming cluster in Meghalaya, and Coldwater fisheries cluster in Himachal Pradesh.

2. Seaweed & Pearl and Ornamental Fisheries

1. Projects worth Rs.195 crore under PMMSY have been approved for development of Seaweed
2. 384 suitable sites (24,707 ha) identified for Seaweed culture
3. Government notified Guidelines for Import of Live Seaweeds into India. The guidelines will facilitate import of high-quality seed materials or germplasm from abroad, enabling domestic multiplication for ensuring farmers have access to quality seed stock.
4. The Department of Fisheries has launched Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for pearl cultivation in Hazaribagh and ornamental fisheries in Madurai. Currently, 83 operational units support pearl farming, engaging approximately 400 farmers and producing 1.02 lakh pearls annually.

 

3. Support to Fisheries Startups and Fisheries Farmer Producer Organization (FFPO)

1. 2,195 Fisheries Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) have been approved under PMMSY, with contributions from multiple agencies: NCDC (1,070), SFAC (550), NAFED (550), and NFDB (25).
2. To enhance market access and integrate fisheries stakeholders into the digital economy, the Department signed its first MoU with ONDC under the Digital India initiative. So far, 63 FFPOs have been onboarded on ONDC, enabling traditional fishermen, fish farmers, and entrepreneurs to buy and sell products through a secure e-marketplace. As part of this effort, the Department released a booklet titled “From Catch to Commerce: Increasing Market Access through Digital Transformation.”
3. Further, PMMSY supports an entrepreneurship model for fisheries and aquaculture, offering assistance of up to ₹1.3 crore for integrated business models, technology infusion projects, hygienic fish marketing through kiosks, development of recreational fisheries, and promotion of group activities. To date, 39 projects have been sanctioned, benefiting fisheries graduates and entrepreneurs across the country.

 

4. Harnessing the potential of EEZ and High Seas: In a major step towards realizing the vision of a prosperous and inclusive Blue Economy, the Government of India on 04.11.2025 has notified the Rules for “Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)”. The Rules give priority to Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) for undertaking deep-sea fishing operations and managing technologically advanced vessels. The EEZ Rules will not only facilitate deep-sea fishing but will also contribute to enhancing seafood exports by emphasizing value addition, traceability, and certification.

 

5. Integrated Aquaparks: Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, the Department of Fisheries has approved the development of 11 Integrated Aquaparks across various States. The total sanctioned cost for these projects stands at ₹682.60 crore.

 

6. The Department of Fisheries, MoFAH&D, has rolled out a special component with outlay of Rs. 364 crore under PMMSY to ensure safety and security of fishers while at sea by providing 1 lakh fishing vessels with indigenously developed transponders free of cost to enable two-way communication for fishers for sending alerts during any emergency and cyclones and information on potential fishing zones.

 

7. World Fisheries Day 2025:

 

1. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D) celebrated the World Fisheries Day 2025 with the theme India’s Blue Transformation: Strengthening Value Addition in Seafood Exports on 21st November 2025, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi.
2. On the occasion of world fisheries Day 2025 the Department of Fisheries Launched series of landmark initiatives and projects namely National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries and Aquaculture 2025, Release SOP for Mariculture, Release SOP on Development and Management of Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbours, SOP on Development of Minimum Basic Infrastructure at Notified Marine Fish Landing Centres, Guidelines for Reservoir Fisheries Management and Compendium of Coastal Aquaculture Guidelines

 

8. On National Fish Farmer Day 2025 on 10^th July 2025, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj Shri Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh unveiled key initiatives including:
   1. Release of the ICAR Training Calendar
   2. Guidelines on seed certification and hatchery operations
   3. Notification of 17 new fisheries production and processing clusters.

 

1. Seafood Exports:

1. India’s seafood exports touched an all-time high in value during the financial year 2024-25 to Rs 62,408 crore (US$ 7,453.73 million), increasing by 3.11% as compared to Rs. 60,523.89 crore (US$ 7381.89 million) in 2023-24.
2. Since April 2025, the United States has sharply increased tariffs on Indian seafood, raising duties in phases to a cumulative 58.26% on shrimp exports, which account for nearly 90% of India’s seafood exports to the US. Despite this shock, India’s seafood sector showed strong resilience and adaptability. - Comparison of April–October 2024 (pre-tariff) vs April–October 2025 (post-tariff) data indicate continued growth, with overall seafood exports rising by 21% in value (₹35,107.6 crore to ₹42,322.3 crore) and 12% in quantity (9.62 lakh MT to 10.73 lakh MT). Frozen shrimp exports also increased by 17% in value and 6% in volume.
3. India exports over 350 seafood products to 130 countries, with aquaculture contributing 62% of export value, India is emerging as a hub for high value, processed seafood.
4. Value-added exports contributing nearly 11% to the India’s export basket has shown a substantial growth of 56% from Rs 4863.40 crore to Rs 7589.93 crore in the past 5 years.
5. The Department of Fisheries has held ministerial- and secretarial-level discussions with global counterparts, foreign missions, and industry stakeholders to strengthen bilateral cooperation, enhance seafood trade, attract investment and promote value-added exports, including initiatives such as the investors’ meets and high-level engagements.
6. Hon’ble Union Ministers Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Shri Piyush Goyal chaired a stakeholder consultation on boosting Indian exports, with focus on seafood exports, market access, value chain strengthening, deep-sea mining opportunities, and the India–US Bilateral Trade Agreement, with emphasis on the fisheries sector.

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JP

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