**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes initiatives undertaken by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, towards the development of fisheries in Kerala. It highlights various projects approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), regulations regarding fishing practices, and policies related to kerosene allocation and offshore mineral development. It also touches on infrastructure development projects in Kerala.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **PMMSY Initiatives in Kerala:**
* Fisheries development projects worth Rs. 1418.51 crore have been approved for Kerala under PMMSY.
* Approved activities include support for deep-sea fishing vessels, artificial reefs, alternate livelihood activities, biofloc units, and Re-Circulatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS).
* Livelihood support during fish ban (1,71,033 Nos) has been approved.
* Establishment of Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages, Climate Resilient Coastal Villages, Matsya Seva Kendras, and Sagar Mitras are also approved.
* **Fishing Regulations:**
* A uniform fishing ban is implemented for 61 days on the East and West Coasts during specific periods for fish stock rejuvenation.
* Destructive fishing practices like bull or pair trawling and use of artificial lights/LED lights for fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are prohibited.
* Coastal States/UTs, including Kerala, impose similar prohibitions within territorial waters, such as Minimum Legal Size (MLS) of fish species, mesh size, and fishing gear regulations.
* **Kerosene Allocation Policy:**
* The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) formulates the Public Distribution Superior Kerosene Oil (PDS SKO) Allocation Policy.
* The government allocates PDS Kerosene to States/UTs on a quarterly basis for cooking, lighting, and special needs (fisheries, mela, exhibitions, pandemic, calamity, etc.).
* Distribution within the State/UT is carried out by the concerned State/UT, who also decide the scale and criteria.
* The retail selling price of PDS kerosene is maintained at a NIL under-recovery level pan-India.
* **Offshore Mineral Development:**
* The Offshore Areas Mineral and Development Act, 2002, and related rules (Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024 and Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024) include provisions for environmental protection.
* **Infrastructure Development:**
* Under PMMSY, strengthening post-harvest infrastructure, including cold chain facilities, is a priority.
* Approved projects in Kerala include expansion/upgradation of fishing harbors, maintenance dredging of existing harbors, establishment of ice plants/cold storages, transport vehicles for enhancing the shelf life of fishes, whole sale fish markets, retail markets, fish kiosks, live fish vending centres, and value added enterprise units.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Fishermen and Fishing Communities**
**Impact:**
* Increased access to resources and infrastructure through PMMSY initiatives, like deep sea fishing vessels and artificial reefs.
* Livelihood support during fishing bans.
* Regulations on fishing practices (e.g., bans on certain techniques, MLS) impact fishing operations.
* Access to kerosene under the PDS SKO Allocation Policy.
**Action Required:**
* Comply with fishing regulations regarding banned practices and gear.
* Avail of livelihood support schemes during fishing bans.
* Utilize upgraded infrastructure and cold chain facilities.
* Adhere to distribution guidelines for PDS Kerosene.
**Stakeholder: State Government of Kerala**
**Impact:**
* Receives financial support for fisheries development projects under PMMSY.
* Responsible for implementing and enforcing fishing regulations within its territorial waters.
* Administers the distribution of PDS kerosene within the state, setting the criteria and scale.
* Responsible for protection of marine ecosystem.
**Action Required:**
* Implement and monitor PMMSY projects effectively.
* Enforce fishing regulations.
* Ensure fair and efficient distribution of PDS kerosene.
* Enforce Offshore Areas Mineral and Development Act, 2002, and related rules.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Flagship scheme for holistic development of fisheries
Kerala: The state where fisheries development projects are being implemented and impacted by the schemes.
Department of Fisheries: The department implementing the schemes, policies, and programs.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG): Nodal ministry for the Public Distribution Superior Kerosene Oil (PDS SKO) Allocation Policy.
Offshore Areas Mineral and Development Act, 2002: Law ensuring environment protection and preventing adverse impacts on the marine ecosystem.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Coastal Fisher Folk in Kerala
Posted On: 10 FEB 2026 1:54PM by PIB Delhi
(a) The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, through its schemes, policies and programmes has
taken up several initiatives towards holistic development of fisheries including strengthening the
livelihood of fishers. Under the flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
implemented by the Department, during last 5 years and current year fisheries developmental projects
amounting to Rs. 1418.51 crore has been approved to Kerala. The approved activities inter-alia include
support towards deep sea fishing vessels (20 Nos), installation of artificial reefs along the coast for stock
rejuvenation(42 Nos), alternate/additional livelihood activities like bivalve cultivation(1140 Nos), biofloc
units(780 Nos), Re-Circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS) (708 Nos). In terms of welfare, livelihood
support to fishers during fish ban (1,71,033 Nos) has been approved to Kerala. In addition, establishment
of Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages (09 Nos), Climate Resilient Coastal Villages (06 Nos),
extension support services -Matsya Seva Kendras (10 Nos) and Sagar Mitras (222 Nos) are also approved
to Kerala for strengthening the coastal fisheries and infrastructure in the region.
Further, uniform fishing ban is implemented for a period of 61 days, from 15th April to 14th June on the
East Coast and from 1st June to 31st July on the West Coast in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) for rejuvenation of fish stock. The DoF, GoI has also issued orders to prohibit destructive fishing
practices like bull or pair trawling and use of artificial lights/LED lights for fishing in the Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ), and similar prohibitions are also imposed within territorial waters by the coastal
States/UTs including Kerala such as Minimum Legal Size (MLS) of fish species, mesh size and fishing
gear regulations, etc.
(b): The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) being the nodal Ministry in the subject matter
has informed that the Government of India has formulated the Public Distribution Superior Kerosene Oil
(PDS SKO) Allocation Policy under which government makes allocation of PDS Kerosene States/UTs on
quarterly basis for cooking & lighting and for special needs (fisheries, mela, exhibitions, pandemic,
calamity etc.). Further distribution of PDS Kerosene within the State/UT under PDS network is carried out
by the concerned State/UT. Scale and criteria of the distribution is accordingly, also decided by the
respective State/UT. Further, with effect from 1st March, 2020, the retail selling price of PDS kerosene is
being maintained at a NIL under-recovery level on a pan-India basis.
(c): As informed by the Ministry of Mines, the Offshore Areas Mineral and Development Act, 2002, and
the Rules framed thereunder, namely, Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024 and Offshore Areas
Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024 are having the provisions to ensure the environment
protection and preventing any adverse impacts on the marine ecosystem.
(d): Under PMMSY, providing safe landing and berthing facility and strengthening of post-harvest
infrastructure including cold chain facilities are one of the priority activities. During last 5 years and
current year under PMMSY, various infrastructure projects in this line have been approved to Kerala
which includes expansion/upgradation of fishing harbors (7 Nos), maintenance dredging of existingharbors (6Nos), establishment of ice plants/cold storages(16 Nos), transport vehicles for enhancing the
shelf life of fishes(468 Nos), whole sale fish markets (2 Nos), retail market (5 Nos), fish kiosk (90 Nos),
live fish vending centres (77 Nos), Value added enterprise units(10 Nos).
This information was given by Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh
alias Lalan Singh in the Lok Sabha today in response to a question asked.
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JP
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