Parliament Question: Coastal Erosion and Climate-Resilient Fishing Villages

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2670 ANSWERED ON 04/08/2026 COASTAL EROSION AND CLIMATE-RESILIENT FISHING VILLAGES 2670. SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHIL: SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA: Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has identified coastal fishing villages in Tamil Nadu under the Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages initiative, if so, the names of such villages and districts selected in Tamil Nadu; (b) the amount of funds allocated, released and utilised for Tamil Nadu under the said initiative; (c) whether coastal erosion and climate vulnerability mapping has been used for selection of villages in Tamil Nadu; (d) the livelihood, housing, safety and infrastructure support proposed for fisherfolk in such villages; and (e) whether the Government has reviewed support for deep-sea fishing transition mariculture and coastal pilots, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING: (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) to (b): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, recognising the importance of strengthening coastal communities, has undertaken a transformative initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to develop 100 existing coastal fishermen villages, located close to the coastline across all coastal States and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, into Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFVs). This initiative aims to upgrade these villages into economically vibrant and climate‑resilient fishermen villages. Under PMMSY, ₹200 crore has been earmarked for the development of CRCFVs, with a unit cost of ₹2 crore per village, with 100% funding by the Government of India. In Tamil Nadu, 16 coastal villages have been approved for development as CRCFVs at a total cost of ₹32 crore, and the first and second installments amounting to ₹16 crore have already been released to the State Government. The district‑wise details of the coastal villages identified in Tamil Nadu are furnished at Annexure‑I.(c) Villages for development as CRCFV across all coastal States/UTs, including Tamil Nadu, have been jointly identified with the respective State/UT Governments in accordance with the prescribed Guidelines. The selection of villages under CRCFV prioritized those situated on the seashore and close to the shoreline (0–5 km, then 0–10 km, then 0–20 km). Preference was given to villages with a higher proportion of fishermen (100%, then 90–100%, then 80–90%), greater numbers of fishing boats, fish landings, and allied fisheries activities. Alignment with the villages covered under the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) Scheme of ICAR was also considered wherever available. (d) The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying has approved the need-based activities proposed by the State Government in the DPR submitted for each village. The activities include infrastructure components like multipurpose halls, fish auction and processing units, drying yards, net‑mending sheds, storage rooms, RCC roads with street lighting, desalination plants and rest sheds. The livelihood and economic interventions include marine and brackish‑water cage culture, bivalve and crab fattening units, bio‑fertilizer production, artificial reefs, ice boxes, fishing‑implement shops and mobile fish‑food outlets, green‑fuel boats, life buoys, life jackets and towing equipment, collectively aimed at strengthening resilience, enhancing productivity and improving welfare across coastal fishing communities. (e) The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has supported the transition from trawling to deep-sea fishing and towards mariculture to promote sustainable fishing practices under the Blue Revolution and PMMSY schemes. The Government of Tamil Nadu has reported that, under the Blue Revolution Scheme (2017–18), the State undertook the “Diversification of trawl fishing boats from Palk Bay into deep‑sea fishing boats”. Approval was accorded for replacing 750 trawlers with deep‑sea fishing vessels at a unit cost of ₹80 lakh, with a financial support comprising 50% central subsidy, 20% State subsidy, 10% beneficiary contribution, and 20% institutional financing, amounting to ₹281.50 crore. For mariculture, financial assistance has been extended under the PMMSY Scheme for activities such as seaweed culture (raft and monoline methods) and open sea cage farming across multiple districts of Tamil Nadu. These efforts have benefited over 2000 fisherfolks and supported the establishment of nearly 10,000 seaweed raft/monoline units and over 179 open sea cages. *****Annexure I Statement referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2670 put in by Shri Sasikanth Senthil and Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta, Hon’ble Members of Parliament, Lok Sabha due for answer on 04th August, 2026 regarding ‘Coastal Erosion and Climate-Resilient Fishing Villages’ District-wise list of identified coastal fishermen villages identified for development as Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV) in Tamil Nadu under PMMSY: State Name Name of the District Name of the Coastal Fishermen Village Pasiyavaram Tiruvallur Tiruvallur Senjiyamman Nagar Thoothukudi Tharuvaikulam Tamil Nadu Chengalpattu Paramankeni Villupuram Mandavai Pudhukuppam Cuddalore C. Puthupettai Mayiladuthurai Puthupettai Nagapattinam Arcottudurai Thanjavur Puthupattiam Pudukkottai Kumarapanvayal Ramanathapuram Soliyakudi Ramanathapuram Kalimankundu Thoothukudi Veerapandian Pattinam Tirunelveli Idinthakarai Kanniyakumari Arockiapuram Kanniyakumari Erayumanthurai *****