The Government of India is undertaking a comprehensive modernization drive in the fisheries sector through its flagship Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched in 2020-21 with a record investment of ₹20,050 crore. The scheme, which runs till 2025-26, aims to achieve a “Blue Revolution” by promoting sustainable aquaculture, strengthening infrastructure, and ensuring the welfare of fishermen across all States and Union Territories.
Major Infrastructure Achievements
Over the past five years (2020–21 to 2024–25), the Department of Fisheries has sanctioned a wide range of modern facilities under PMMSY, including:
- 734 cold storages and ice plants.
- 27,301 fish transport units, comprising 10,924 motorcycles with ice boxes, 9,412 bicycles with ice boxes, 3,915 auto-rickshaws, 1,265 live fish vending units, 1,406 insulated trucks, and 379 refrigerated trucks.
- 6,410 fish kiosks, 202 retail fish markets, and 21 wholesale fish markets.
In addition, a total of 117 fishing harbours and fish landing centres worth ₹9,832 crore have been approved over the past 11 years under schemes such as PMMSY, Blue Revolution, and the Fisheries & Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
Climate Resilience and Sustainability
Recognizing the challenges of climate change, the Government has launched initiatives to make the fisheries sector more adaptive and eco-friendly.
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), under its NICRA programme, is studying the impact of rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, and habitat changes on fish physiology, distribution, and breeding.
- PMMSY is actively promoting sustainable fishing practices, eco-friendly aquaculture, artificial reefs, and sea ranching to restore fish stocks and protect biodiversity.
- A pioneering initiative is underway to transform 100 Coastal Fishermen Villages (CFVs) into Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFVs), making them hubs of economic activity while safeguarding livelihoods against climate risks.
Combating Illegal and Unregulated Fishing
The Government has strengthened measures to tackle Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
- The Indian Coast Guard enforces laws against foreign vessels under the Maritime Zones of India Act, while States implement their Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs).
- Advanced surveillance is enabled through the ReALCraft portal for vessel registration, Biometric Identity Cards for fishers, and communication devices like VHF, DAT, NAVIC, and ISRO-developed transponders.
- A national rollout aims to equip 1,00,000 mechanized and motorized fishing vessels with tracking devices, provided free of cost under shared Central–State funding.
On the global front, India collaborates with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), maintains MoUs with partner countries, and hosts the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BoBP-IGO) to promote regional cooperation in sustainable fisheries.
Financial and Social Support
To strengthen the financial base of fishers, the Government has extended Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facilities to fish farmers since 2018–19. Insurance support has also been expanded:
- ₹5 lakh coverage for death or permanent disability.
- ₹2.5 lakh for partial disability.
- ₹25,000 for accidental hospitalization.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), fish farmers receive one-time incentives for purchasing aquaculture insurance, with SC/ST and women beneficiaries enjoying an additional 10% incentive. The National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) further enables fishers to access scheme benefits through digital work-based identities.
Empowering Women in Fisheries
The Government has placed special emphasis on increasing women’s participation in fisheries and allied activities.
- Women beneficiaries receive 60% financial assistance under PMMSY, compared to 40% for other stakeholders.
- Support includes training, capacity building, skill development, and concessional loans under KCC.
- Efforts are also being made to strengthen women-led cooperatives, SHGs, and producer groups for better market linkages and livelihood opportunities.
Towards a Blue Economy
With record investments, modern infrastructure, climate-resilient strategies, and strong social security, India’s fisheries sector is being transformed into a key pillar of the nation’s Blue Economy. The modernization drive under PMMSY and allied programmes is expected to not only boost productivity and exports, but also enhance the lives of millions of fishers and fish farmers, ensuring sustainable growth for decades to come.
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