Programmes and Schemes for Fisheries in India
India is the 3rd largest fish producer and 2nd in aquaculture globally. To boost inland & marine fisheries, aquaculture, and fishers’ welfare, the Government of India has launched several programmes.
- Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries (2015–20)
- Aim: Holistic development of the fisheries sector.
- Objectives:
- Increase fish production & productivity.
- Improve aquaculture infrastructure.
- Welfare of fishers & fisherwomen.
- Impact: Raised India’s fish production to 137.5 lakh tonnes (2018–19).
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY, 2020–25)
- Flagship scheme of the Government of India under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
- Budget: ₹20,050 crore (largest ever for fisheries).
- Targets:
- Double fishers’ income.
- Increase fish production to 220 lakh tonnes by 2024–25.
- Generate 55 lakh employment opportunities.
- Components:
- Marine fisheries & aquaculture development.
- Inland fisheries (ponds, tanks, reservoirs).
- Cold chain, processing, and export promotion.
- Insurance, KCC facility, and welfare support for fishers.
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF, 2018)
- Corpus: ₹7,522 crore.
- Objective: Develop infrastructure for fisheries & aquaculture.
- Areas supported:
- Fishing harbors, landing centres.
- Cold storage, ice plants.
- Modern fishing vessels.
- Aquaculture ponds, hatcheries.
- Support: Loans via NABARD, NCDC, scheduled banks with interest subvention.
- National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen (Ongoing)
- Aim: Provide housing, group accident insurance, and saving-cum-relief for fishers.
- Components:
- Housing: ₹1.2 lakh per fisher household.
- Insurance: Accidental death/disability cover.
- Saving-cum-relief: Provides financial support during fishing ban/lean season.
- National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB, 2006)
- Autonomous organization under DAHD&F.
- Focus areas:
- Reservoir & cage culture.
- Ornamental fisheries.
- Fish feed mills.
- Cold chain, markets, e-marketing.
- Outcome: Major driver of inland aquaculture expansion.
- Kisan Credit Card (KCC) for Fisheries (2020 onwards)
- Objective: Short-term working capital loans to fishers & fish farmers.
- Coverage: Working capital for nets, boats, feed, seed, fuel, medicines.
- Loan Limit: Up to ₹3 lakh with interest subvention.
- Marine Fisheries Schemes
- Deep Sea Fishing Scheme (2017): Support to replace traditional trawlers with tuna longliners for sustainable fishing.
- Motorization of traditional crafts: Subsidies to mechanize fishing boats.
- Safety kits & GPS: Subsidies for modern navigation and safety devices.
- Inland Fisheries & Aquaculture Schemes
- Development of ponds and tanks for freshwater aquaculture.
- Integrated fish farming (fish-cum-poultry, fish-cum-pig).
- Ornamental fisheries support schemes.
- Reservoir fisheries development through cage & pen culture.
- State-Level Examples
- Andhra Pradesh – Matsyakara Bharosa (2019) Financial assistance of ₹10,000 annually to each fisherman family.
- Tamil Nadu – Blue Revolution State Schemes; Focus on inland aquaculture, seaweed farming, cage culture.
- Kerala – Theeramythri Project; Women SHGs in fisheries for value addition & processing.
- West Bengal – Jal Dharo Jal Bharo; Promotes rainwater harvesting structures for aquaculture.
