**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Government of India's response to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding the welfare of coastal fisher folk in Kerala. It outlines various initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and other programs aimed at improving livelihoods, infrastructure, and environmental protection in the fisheries sector in Kerala. The questions were posed on the 10th of February, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Fisheries Development Projects:**
* Rs. 1418.51 crore has been approved to Kerala for fisheries developmental projects under PMMSY in the last 5 years and the current year.
* Approved activities include support for deep-sea fishing vessels (20), artificial reefs (42), bivalve cultivation (1140), biofloc units (780), and Re-Circulatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) (708).
* Livelihood support has been approved for fishers during the fishing ban (171,033).
* Establishment of Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages (9), Climate Resilient Coastal Villages (6), Matsya Seva Kendras (10), and Sagar Mitras (222) are approved.
* **Fishing Regulations:**
* Uniform fishing ban implemented for 61 days on both East (April 15th to June 14th) and West Coasts (June 1st to July 31st) in the Indian EEZ.
* Orders prohibiting destructive fishing practices like bull/pair trawling and artificial lights/LED lights in the EEZ are in place.
* Similar prohibitions are imposed within territorial waters by coastal States/UTs, including regulations on Minimum Legal Size (MLS) of fish species, mesh size, and fishing gear.
* **Kerosene Subsidy:**
* The Government of India has formulated the Public Distribution Superior Kerosene Oil (PDS SKO) Allocation Policy.
* PDS Kerosene allocation to States/UTs is done on a quarterly basis by the central government.
* The distribution of PDS Kerosene within the State/UT is carried out by the concerned State/UT and they decide on the scale and criteria for the distribution.
* The retail selling price of PDS kerosene is being maintained at a NIL under-recovery level on a pan-India basis since March 1st, 2020.
* **Offshore Mining:**
* Offshore Areas Mineral and Development Act, 2002, and related rules (2024) include provisions to ensure environmental protection and prevent adverse impacts from offshore mining.
* **Infrastructure Development:**
* Under PMMSY, priority is given to safe landing and berthing facilities, as well as strengthening post-harvest infrastructure.
* Various infrastructure projects have been approved for Kerala, including expansion/upgradation of fishing harbors (7), maintenance dredging of harbors (6), ice plants/cold storages (16), transport vehicles (468), wholesale fish markets (2), retail markets (5), fish kiosks (90), live fish vending centers (77), and value-added enterprise units (10).
**Impact Analysis**
**Coastal Fisher Folk in Kerala**
* **Impact:** Improved livelihoods through fisheries development projects, fishing regulations, access to subsidized kerosene, and infrastructure development. Environmental protection measures related to offshore mining.
* **Action Required:** Engage with State/UT authorities to ensure effective implementation of fisheries development projects, fishing regulations, and kerosene distribution policies. Participate in monitoring and reporting activities related to environmental protection in offshore mining areas.
**State Government of Kerala**
* **Impact:** Increased funding for fisheries development, improved infrastructure, and support for fisher folk.
* **Action Required:** Effectively implement and monitor PMMSY-funded projects, enforce fishing regulations, ensure equitable distribution of PDS kerosene, and collaborate with central government agencies on environmental protection measures.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Flagship scheme implemented by the Department of Fisheries for the holistic development of fisheries.
Kerala: Indian state where the coastal fisher folk are affected and where projects and policies are being implemented.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: Union ministry responsible for fisheries development, animal husbandry and dairying.
Public Distribution Superior Kerosene Oil (PDS SKO) Allocation Policy: Policy under which government makes allocation of PDS Kerosene States/UTs.
Offshore Areas Mineral and Development Act, 2002: Law that governs offshore mineral activities and includes provisions for environmental protection.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1796
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10TH FEBRUARY, 2026
Coastal Fisher Folk in Kerala
1796. Shri N K Premachandran:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be
pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government addressed the major issue of coastal fisher folk in Kerala
due to reduced fish catches especially of traditional species and if so, the details of action
taken thereon;
(b) whether the Government has initiated any action in request of the Kerala fisher folk
to reduce the price of kerosene and give subsidy and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government considered the request of coastal population from Kollam
to drop the proposal of offshore mining so as to protect the marine ecosystem and provide
livelihood to the fisher folk and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government proposes any special programme to State of Kerala to
provide adequate landing centres, cold chain system, value addition units, safe docking
and affordable storage persist and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)
(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 existing harbors (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).
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