Parliament Question: Catch limits for fishing

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION. No. 1325 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11TH FEBRUARY, 2026 Catch limits for fishing 1325. Shri S.R. Sivalingam: Will the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying be pleased to state: a) whether Government has fixed species‑specific catch limits or minimum size norms for Pomfret and if not, the reasons for absence of such safeguards despite scientific warnings; b) whether Government has initiated independent third‑party stock assessments of Pomfret populations and the timeline for placing such data in the public domain; c) whether Government proposes stricter enforcement against mechanised trawling and illegal fishing in traditional zones affecting Pomfret breeding grounds; and d) whether Government has earmarked financial or livelihood support for small and traditional fishers impacted by declining Pomfret availability? ANSWER MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH (a) to (d): The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has recommended the minimum legal size for the commercially important species including pomfret. Based on such recommendations, advisories are issued to the States/UTs to implement measures to prevent juvenile fishing, such as mesh-size regulations and minimum legal sizes for fish under their Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs), to ensure sustainable and responsible fishing practices. States like Kerala and Maharashtra have notified minimum legal size for the fishes, including pomfrets. ICAR-CMFRI conducts periodic stock assessments of marine fisheries resources including pomfrets along the Indian coast. The most recent stock status assessment from 2023 was published in the Marine Fish Stock Status (MFSS) Report, 2022. As per this report, about 91.1% of India’s Marine Fish Stocks are in a healthy condition. Under the Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs) of coastal States, specific zones are reserved exclusively for traditional, non-mechanised, or small-scale motorized boats. Some states have prohibited mechanised fishing vessels from operating in these "traditional zones.". Recognizing the decline in Silver Pomfret (Pampus argenteus) stocks, the Government of Maharashtra recently declared it the ‘State Fish’ to focus conservation efforts. Minimum Legal Size (MLS) regulations (e.g., 135-140 mm for Silver Pomfret) have been notified to prevent the catching of juveniles in breeding grounds. Further, the Government of India has prohibited destructive fishing methods such as Bull/Pair Trawling and the use of LED lights for fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and have issued advisories to the States to implement such measures in the territorial waters. Besides, to protect fish during their peak breeding season, a uniform 61-day annual fishing ban has been in operation on both east and west coast of India.Assistance is provided under PMMSY to socio-economically backward and active traditional fisher families during the annual fishing ban/lean period. Assistance of ₹3,000 per beneficiary per year is provided by the Government, with a beneficiary contribution of ₹1,500, and the accumulated amount of ₹4,500 is released during the three-month ban period. Further, to enhance availability of fishery resources in the coastal areas including traditional fishing zones, the State Governments have deployed Artificial Reefs with funding support under the PMMSY. ***********