**Executive Summary**
This document discusses the Government of India's initiatives, specifically the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), to enhance the fisheries sector and the well-being of fishers. It highlights the collaboration between the Ministry of Cooperation and the Department of Fisheries to promote deep-sea fishing and related value-chain development. The PMMSY started in financial year 2020-21 and the FIDF has been active since 2018-19.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)**
* Flagship scheme to enhance fisheries sector growth and the welfare of fishers and fish farmers.
* Empowers traditional and small-scale fishers to undertake deep-sea fishing.
* Provides financial support for acquiring and upgrading fishing vessels.
* Implemented with an investment of Rs. 20,050 crore from FY 2020-21.
* Supports livelihood strengthening activities such as providing boats, nets, communication devices, sea-safety kits, insurance, seaweed cultivation, training, cold-chain development, and construction of fishing harbors.
* **Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)**
* Fund size of Rs. 7522.48 crore since 2018-19.
* Provides credit guarantee facility.
* Provides concessional finance for fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure development.
* Supports development of fisheries infrastructure like fishing harbors, landing centers, cold chain facilities, fish markets, and mariculture units.
* **Ministry Collaboration**
* The Ministry of Cooperation collaborates with the Department of Fisheries through a Joint Working Group (JWG).
* Promotes small-scale fishermen's participation in deep-sea fishing, processing, and exports.
* Strengthens fishery cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs).
* Facilitates access to institutional finance and cooperative-based asset creation through NCDC.
**Impact Analysis**
**Fishers and Fish Farmers**
* **Impact:** Enhanced opportunities for deep-sea fishing, improved livelihoods through financial support, training, and infrastructure development.
* **Action Required:** To actively participate in the PMMSY and FIDF programs and utilize the resources available to upgrade their fishing vessels and develop new skills.
**Fishery Cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs)**
* **Impact:** Strengthened through access to institutional finance and cooperative-based asset creation.
* **Action Required:** To work with NCDC to utilize the resources available to upgrade assets and further develop marine fisheries infrastructure.
**State Governments/Union Territories and State Entities**
* **Impact:** Support for development of identified fisheries infrastructure facilities
* **Action Required:** To develop fisheries infrastructure including construction of Fishing Harbours and Fish Landing Centres, Deep Sea Fishing Vessels, Cold chain facilities, Fish Markets and Mariculture Units
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Flagship scheme aimed at enhancing the growth of the fisheries sector and wellbeing of fishers and fish farmers, with a focus on deep-sea fishing.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF): Fund implemented by the Department of Fisheries to provide concessional finance for fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure development.
Department of Fisheries: Primary government department responsible for implementing schemes and providing policy framework and technical guidance for the fisheries sector.
Ministry of Cooperation: Ministry collaborating with the Department of Fisheries to promote small-scale fishermen's participation in deep-sea fishing.
National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC): Organisation providing financial assistance under PMMSY and FIDF for marine fisheries infrastructure development.
Ministry of Cooperation
Deep-Sea Fishing and Blue Economy Initiatives
Posted On: 04 FEB 2026 6:21PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Fisheries, Government of India is implementing a flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri
Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) which aims to enhance the overall growth of the fisheries sector and
wellbeing of the fishers and fish farmers. One of the key objectives of PMMSY is to empower the
traditional and small-scale fishers to undertake deep-sea fishing. Under PMMSY, financial support is
provided to traditional fishers for acquisition of deep-sea fishing vessels as well as upgradation of existing
fishing vessels for export competency.
Adopting the “whole of government approach”, the Ministry of Cooperation is collaborating with the
Department of Fisheries, through a Joint Working Group (JWG), to promote small-scale fishermen’s
participation in deep-sea fishing, value-chain development, processing and exports.
The Ministry of Cooperation facilitates the programme by strengthening fishery cooperatives and Fish
Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) through access to institutional finance, cooperative-based asset
creation and coordinated implementation through NCDC, while the Department of Fisheries provides the
policy framework, technical guidance and scheme-based support for deep-sea fishing and allied fisheries
activities. Both Ministries work in close coordination to promote collectivisation of fishers, deployment of
deep-sea fishing vessels, development of processing and chilling infrastructure, and strengthening of the
marine fisheries value chain through fishery cooperatives and FFPOs.
The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is being implemented with a highest ever
investment of Rs. 20,050 crore with effect from Financial Year 2020-21 for holistic development of
fisheries and wellbeing of fishermen and fish farmers. The Department of Fisheries is also implementing
the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) with a total fund size of Rs
7522.48 crore since 2018-19. The Government of India has, inter alia, approved for providing credit
guarantee facility under the FIDF.
Financial assistance has been provided through the NCDC under the PMMSY and FIDF for the
development of marine fisheries infrastructure through cooperatives.
The PMMSY inter-alia envisages support towards livelihood strengthening activities such as providing
boats and nets to traditional fishermen, support for communication and tracking devices, providing sea-
safety kits, insurance cover to fishers, support for acquisition of deep-sea fishing vessels,
alternative/additional livelihood activities like seaweed cultivation & bivalve culture, training & skilldevelopment, support towards cold-chain and marketing facilities, etc. Besides, the scheme also envisages
construction of Fishing Harbours and Fish Landing Centres ensuring safe landing and berthing of fishing
boats/vessels. Whereas, FIDF inter-alia provides concessional finance for development of various
fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure facilities to the Eligible Entities (EEs), including State
Governments/Union Territories and State entities for development of identified fisheries infrastructure
facilities including construction of Fishing Harbours and Fish Landing Centres, Deep Sea Fishing Vessels,
Cold chain facilities, Fish Markets and Mariculture Units and its allied activities for supporting coastal
livelihood empowerment, fish export growth and sustainable resource management.
This information was given by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a written
reply in Rajya Sabha.
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