**Policy Summary: Fisheries Sector Infrastructure and Institutional Strengthening (July 30, 2025)**
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying outlined several key initiatives and progress updates for the fisheries sector in a statement released on July 30, 2025. These initiatives were highlighted during the Coastal States Fisheries Meet 2025 held on April 28, 2025, in Mumbai.
**Key Initiatives and Updates:**
1. **Infrastructure Development:** The Union Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation for projects totaling Rs. 255 crores across seven Coastal States and Union Territories under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
2. **Vessel Communication and Support System:** A national rollout plan is underway for the installation of indigenously developed transponders on one lakh marine fishing vessels (mechanized and motorized) across all 13 Coastal States and Union Territories, with an outlay of Rs. 364 Crores under PMMSY. As of July 30, 2025, 33,674 transponders have been installed.
3. **Regional Fisheries Management Councils (RFMCs):** Three RFMCs (Western, Eastern, and Southern) were constituted on March 29, 2023, to address interstate fishing disputes. These councils are Co-Chaired by the Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries), DoF, GoI, and the Secretary in charge of the Department of Fisheries of the concerned Coastal States/UTs on an annual rotation basis.
4. **Gujarat Fisheries Act Amendment:** The Government of Gujarat amended the Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003, to establish the Gujarat State Fisheries Harbour and Aquaculture Development Authority. A committee has been formed to oversee harbor and aquaculture development activities.
5. **Marine Fisheries Census 2025:** The Department of Fisheries (DoF), GoI, launched the Marine Fisheries Census 2025, with ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi, as the nodal agency. The census aims to comprehensively enumerate marine fisher households, fishing villages, and infrastructure across 13 coastal states and Union Territories. Data collection will be digital and georeferenced, utilizing mobile applications and web platforms such as VyASNAV. In Gujarat, the census plans to cover approximately 70,000 households across 280 marine fishing villages in 15 coastal districts.
This information was provided by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri George Kurian, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on July 30, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana PMMSY: A fisheries sector scheme under which key projects were inaugurated and for which foundation stones were laid for 7 Coastal States and Union Territories with an outlay of Rs.255 crores.
Mumbai: City in Maharashtra where the Coastal States Fisheries Meet 2025 was held.
Department of Fisheries, Government of India DoF, GoI: The department implementing the National Rollout Plan for Vessel Communication and Support System and which constituted three Regional Fisheries Management Councils RFMCs.
Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003: The act recently amended by the Government of Gujarat to create a separate dedicated authority, namely the Gujarat State Fisheries Harbour and Aquaculture Development Authority.
Gujarat State Fisheries Harbour and Aquaculture Development Authority: A dedicated authority created by the Government of Gujarat through amendment of the Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003.
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute CMFRI, Kochi: The nodal agency for the Marine Fisheries Census 2025.
Marine Fisheries Census 2025: A nationwide initiative designed to comprehensively enumerate marine fisher households, fishing villages, and infrastructure across 13 coastal states and Union Territories.
Gujarat: State in India where the Marine Fisheries Census 2025 envisages covering approximately 70,000 households spread across 280 marine fishing villages in 15 coastal districts.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Infrastructure and Institutional Strengthening in the
Fisheries Sector
Posted On: 30 JUL 2025 2:53PM by PIB Delhi
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The Coastal States Fisheries Meet 2025 was held on 28 April, 2025 at Mumbai under the Chairmanship
of the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. On this occasion, Hon’ble Union
Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation for key projects for 7 Coastal States and Union Territories
with a total outlay of Rs.255 crores under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
The Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI) under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), is implementing a National Rollout Plan for Vessel Communication
and Support System for installation of indigenously developed transponders on one lakh marine
fishing vessels covering mechanized and motorized vessels of all 13 Costal States and Union
Territories with an outlay of Rs. 364 Crores. As on date 33,674 transponders have been installed
on the fishing vessels of the Coastal States/UTs.
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The DoF, GoI vide its Order dated 29 March, 2023 has constituted three Regional Fisheries Management
Councils (RFMCs), namely Western, Eastern and Southern RFMC to address the inter-state fishing related
disputes. These RFMCs are Co-Chaired by the Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries), DoF, GoI and the
Secretary, in-charge of Department of Fisheries of the concerned Coastal States/UTs on annual rotation
basis.
Government of Gujarat has informed that it has recently amended the Gujarat Fisheries Act,
2003, to create a separate dedicated authority, namely the Gujarat State Fisheries Harbour and
Aquaculture Development Authority. A Committee comprising members from various
Departments has been constituted to oversee harbour and aquaculture development activities in
the State.
The DoF, GoI has launched the Marine Fisheries Census 2025 with ICAR-Central Marine
Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi, as the nodal agency. This nationwide initiative is
designed to comprehensively enumerate marine fisher households, fishing villages, and
infrastructure across 13 coastal states and Union Territories, including Gujarat. The census
emphasizes the collection of detailed data on fisher families, fishing crafts, gear, and related
facilities using app-based, real-time digital methods. In Gujarat, the census envisages to cover
approximately 70,000 households spread across 280 marine fishing villages in 15 coastal
districts. The data collection process is going to be fully digital and geo-referenced, supported by
mobile applications and web platforms such as VyAS-NAV. This information was given by Union
Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri George Kurian, in a
written reply in Rajya Sabha on 30th July, 2025.
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(Release ID: 2150099)